Buhari’s $300,000 Saga: We Have Been Vindicated- PDP

….Insists On Truth Commission

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the denial by President
Muhammadu Buhari on the alleged benefiting from funds relating to the
arms deal scandal, and the consequent controversy trailing it
underscores the need for a more neutral and transparent body like an
independent National Truth Commission to examine all issues relating to
handling of security votes and campaign funding without interferences
from the government.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa
Metuh on Wednesday said the leak that President Buhari benefited from
the office of the former National Security Adviser against the
convention of dealing with the office of the SGF also stresses the fact
that the war against corruption should be holistic, transparent and not
politicized.

“We challenge this administration to a no-holds-barred public
inquisition on all issues of security votes and campaign expenses. This
is more so as we have evidence that President Buhari and the APC
budgeted and spent billons of naira corruptly sourced for their
Presidential campaign, in addition to on-going sleazes in the system
under the APC government.

“Furthermore, this current orchestrated and selective war against
corruption should not be an excuse to justify the onslaught by the
government against democratic institutions, especially the judiciary,
wherein judicial officers are now being hounded and coerced in the
desperation to take over key PDP states of Akwa-Ibom, Taraba and Rivers.

“Today’s Court of Appeal rulings against Rivers State Governor Nyesom
Wike and our federal legislators are clear fall-out of President
Buhari-led government’s muzzling of a session of the judiciary, a
development that portends grave danger to our democracy and the much
desired peace and stability in the volatile region of the Niger Delta,
especially coming on the heels of APC induced violence that led to the
inconclusiveness of the Bayelsa state governorship election.

“We are very worried that our country, now under the command of
President Buhari, is gradually sliding into a police state with observed
bloodthirsty tendencies by obviously compromised security operatives for
which the citizens now live in fear.

“For instance, how can this government explain its indifference to the
recent senseless bloodletting in Zaria, Kaduna state where the military
clashed with an Islamic group resulting in loss of lives, as well as the
mindless attack and killing of some unarmed protesters in Onitsha,
Anambra state by security agents?

“Also embarrassing to democracy is the flouting of judicial
pronouncements, the growing erosion of personal freedom, violation of
fundamental rights of citizens and brutal manhandling of suspects facing
various trials, as amply evidenced by the case of the former Director
General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, who, while on bail was openly beaten
by security operatives.

“We note that these developments are in direct contrast to democratic
environment created by the PDP in the last 16 years where the rule of
law and freedom of citizens were allowed to reign.

“Of utmost concern is the unprecedented and frightening polarization of
the country coming as direct consequence of the undemocratic tendencies
of the Buhari administration. In the last seven months of this
dictatorial and divisive regime, there has been an alarming escalation
of inter-and intra religious and ethnic hostilities that clearly
threaten national cohesion and stability.

“We therefore caution this government to come to terms with the fact
that this nation cannot afford to contain, at this time, undue and
avoidable pressure coming ceaselessly from its totalitarian tendencies
and actions.

Signed:

Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary