The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says that based on revelations of goings-on in the decades old Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the “headquarters of corruption as well as the dockyard of thieves, treasury looters, and oppressive cabal who have stolen our nation dry.”
Recall that in it’s nearly two decades of existence, the NDDC was in the hands of PDP, roundly accused of mismanaging the interventionist agency, but for the last few months, revelations from within and outside the commission point to a litany of looting.
The PDPclaims the ruling party has been seeking to frustrate on-going probes in government agencies because its leaders are complicit and all soiled, from head to toe, in the mire of corruption.
The party noted that APC’s attack against PDP’s insistence on the prosecution of APC leaders indicted in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) probe further betrays the ruling party’s desperation to shield its corrupt leaders and office holders who have been implicated in the probe.
Said PDP, “Under this administration, no government agency is safe from the pillaging fingers of the APC. The APC and its administration is a huge labyrinth of corruption where APC leaders, cabinet ministers, heads of agencies and departments, presidential aides, anti-corruption agencies and even APC federal lawmakers are all entangled in sharp practices.
“The disgraceful and scandalous appeal of “Hon Minister, off your microphone” situation at the National Assembly sums it all.
“Our party challenges the APC to find its voice and speak out on the litany of evidence in the public space, showing how its leaders have been stealing billions of naira NDDC fund while people of the region, wallow in abject poverty and despondency.
“It is imperative to state that the APC must address the new peel of its labyrinth of corruption at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) where their leaders and cronies have been fingered in alleged involvement of looting of about N4.448 billion through underhand contracts.
“Nigerians are already in the know of how APC leaders reportedly siphoned N40 billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), part of which was allegedly used to finance APC’s 2019 campaigns in a racket in which certain top APC leaders were alleged to have received N3 billion each.
“This is in addition to exposed looting of N33 billion NEMA fund as well as findings by the House of Representatives that the funds were never used for provision of emergency food for victims of insurgency in the Northeast among other items as claimed.
“The APC has also remained silent over the allegations that part of the looted funds discovered in the EFCC probe, was given to a very top official of the APC administration.
“Nigerians have also not forgotten the alleged malfeasance in the APC-led ministry of finance and that of humanitarian affairs where billions of naira meant for palliatives and other essentials to mitigate the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic was allegedly stolen.
“The public is also aware of the leaked NNPC memo detailing how APC leaders stole a whooping N9.6 trillion ($25billion dollars) through underhand contracts; the siphoning of N18 billion out of the N48 billion meant for the rebuilding of six northeast states ravaged by insurgency as well as the looting of N25 billion from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), among others.
“We know that the APC leaders are now having sleepless nights. However, pointing accusing fingers at others, destroying evidence, resorting to antics at the National Assembly as well as threats, intimidation and attempt to silence vital witnesses will not help the APC as the headquarters of corruption.”
In another Development, the PDP has asked the presidency to respond to Senator Ali Ndume’s position on the underfunding of the Military in the war against insurgency and other security challenges.
The main opposition party also took on Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state to come clean on his alleged connections with marauders and bandits ravaging his state, following what it described ashis attempt to politicise the issue by claiming that opposition elements were behind the banditry in the state.
The party described as worrisome, the comments by Senator Ndume, the Chairmanofthe Senate Committee on Army,, who on a national television on Tuesday night, restated his position that the Buhari administration was not adequately funding the military.
The PDP noted that Senator Ndume comments places a huge burden of explanation at the doorstep of the Presidency, which, it said, has failed on all fronts to secure the nation, leading to the escalation of banditry, insurgency, kidnapping and other acts of violence in various parts of our country.
The party said it is equally distressing that President Muhammadu Buhari had failed to lead from the front as he promised in addition to failure to heed the demands by Nigerians to change his service chiefs and inject new blood into the nation’s security architecture.
On Masari, the party expressed concerns that the governor resorted to playing politics with the lives of Nigerians in Katsina state by blaming imaginary political rivals, when it is public knowledge that he knows the bandits and has been having dealings with them.
The party however observed that Governor Marasi’s comments had also escalated public apprehension over his government’s alleged complicity in the banditry ravaging the state.
The party, in the statement by its spokesman, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, stated:
“Nigerians can recall that Governor Masari reportedly has some connections with the bandits and even held a much publicised ceasefire agreement meeting with them in September 2019, where the bandits reportedly stated that their grievance was alleged maltreatment by authorities in Katsina state.
“Nigerians can also recall that Governor Masari, in June 2020, announced that his peace agreement with the bandits has collapsed because, according to him, the bandits breached the agreement which his administration had with them.
“Our party therefore urges Governor Masari to come clean on his connections with the bandits and stop pointing accusing fingers on imaginary political rivals, apparently to divert public attention from deeper issues relating to banditry in his state.”
The PDP urged security agencies not to be distracted by Governor Masari’s comments, which is ostensibly to cover for his failures in ensuring security in the state.
The PDP counseled Governor Masari to look for excuses elsewhere as no opposition group is behind the banditry in the state or any part of the country for that matter.