PDP Overwhelmed by Corruption Revelations, Says APC

Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) monday continued to trade words over President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of war on corruption, with the ruling APC accusing the opposition PDP of being overwhelmed by the revelations of the details of alleged massive corruption that went on under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The APC, in a reaction to a call on Sunday by the PDP for the establishment of a National Truth Commission that would conduct a wholesome debate on corruption in the country, said the opposition party was chasing shadows as its call was diversionary.

"This is not the time for any National Truth Commission, it is time for probe, justice, and recovery of slush and looted funds. We do not want any party to hide under any kangaroo commission to cover up its dirty leanings. Today, many Nigerians cannot afford three square meals because of the mismanagement of the economy by the previous administration,’’ the APC stated in a statement by its Assistant Director of Publicity, Mr. Edegbe Odemwinge, in Abuja.

But the PDP in a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the APC-led federal government was selective in its prosecution of the war against corruption and accused the ruling party of mismanaging government anti-graft agencies.

Odemwinge’s statement, which quoted the National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni, as saying that "it is time for probe, justice, and recovery of slush and looted funds,’’ accused the PDP of being "overwhelmed by the shocking details of corruption which characterised the last administration, the opposition party demanded a probe of how the All Progressives Party (APC) funded its presidential campaigns for the 2015 general election.’’

The APC added that the PDP knew that it fought and won its electoral battle basically on the goodwill of the masses, saying the ruling party did not fund its campaign with slush or corrupt funds, and challenged the opposition to provide evidence to the contrary.

According to APC, "The 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act have provided guidelines on campaign funds; we are ready to account for every kobo spent any time we are requested to do so. We are a party noted for managing scarce resources, we are not a wasteful party like PDP.”

The party said no feeble attempt by the PDP to discredit Buhari's administration would work again as the party had tried all antics and failed, adding that the PDP should know that the day of reckoning had come.

"The APC wishes to place on records in clear terms that the president is focused, unwavering, non-selective and ready to fast-track the trial of corrupt public officers. Only the guilty ones are jittery and unconvinced that the war is winnable,’’ the APC stated.

While accusing APC of politicising the anti-corruption war and directing the fight towards opposition elements alone, the PDP said it had become clear from the statement of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that the ongoing campaign against the PDP and the media/mob trial of opposition elements in the country was being coordinated from the office of the minister.

The PDP described as ridiculous a statement made by Mohammed in which he tried to blame the PDP for the apparent failure of the President Buhari-led APC administration.

"We are aware that large sums of money have been made available for this purpose, hence the desire of the Minister to justify his brief," the statement by Metuh said.

The party noted that in carrying out his brief, the minister had chosen to ignore the time-honoured admonition that those who go to equity must come with clean hands.

"Our position on the issue of fighting corruption in the country remains that there should be a holistic and all-encompassing approach that is devoid of persecution and selective victimisation of opponents of the government. If the government is indeed interested in tackling corruption, then it will do well to strengthen the agencies charged with fighting corruption and allow such agencies the freedom to do their work without interference,” the PDP said.