Anti-corruption War: PDP, APC Bicker As Opposition Lawmakers Withdraws Support For Buhari

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday described the freezing of the personal accounts of Fayose as politically motivated.

The party said it had observed with dismay the dangerous trend of “politically-motivated trials and tyrannical administration” of  President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.

The PDP demanded that the ruling party must stop the witch-hunt in the interest of peace and stability of our nation.

This was contained in a statement by the Publicity Committee of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye.

The party  described the freezing of Fayose’s personal account as unlawful, undemocratic, autocratic, oppressive, draconian and the height of desperation by the Buhari administration to cover up for its failure to deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians.

Adeyeye stated, “This government is all out to silence any voice of the opposition. Nigerians will recall that Chief Olisa Metuh, the former National Publicity Secretary of our great party, is today standing trial for receiving campaign funds and since his arrest and prosecution by the anti-graft agency, Chief Metuh could not challenge the APC government on policy issues until he left office.

“Nigerians will also recall that one of the known opposition voices, apart from some individuals and governors of our party, who has exposed the APC-led administration for running the country aground in the last one year, is the former spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode; and he is now standing trial for receiving campaign funds from the Director of Finance of the Campaign.

“ It’s now the turn of the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, who has been consistent in condemning the woes the APC government brought upon Nigerians and for remaining critical of the APC and President Buhari’s administration.”

The party condemned the freezing of Fayose’s personal account and asked the EFCC to unfreeze the bank account immediately, saying the action violated Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, as a sitting governor could not stand trial until after office.

Similarly, the Senate PDP caucus accused President Buhari of an unnecessary witch-hunt against Saraki and Ekweremadu as well as opposition voices such as the governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, whose account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Briefing journalists at the conclusion of a meeting it held after yesterday’s plenary, Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, flanked by other leaders of the caucus, said henceforth, the PDP caucus would withdraw all support for the executive as it warned the president against continuing along the road of change of leadership in the upper chamber.

“We the PDP senators met in our caucus meeting wednesday 21st June, 2016 and deliberated on the state of the nation, and to examine our position on unwarranted threats to the legislative arm of government, particularly to the Senate leadership by the executive arm as well as the on-going intimidation/persecution of the opposition party, PDP, by the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Arising from the foregoing, the caucus passed the following resolutions: we condemn in totality the orchestrated plot to remove the President of the Senate and his deputy through any illegal means.

“The deployment of state instruments of coercion to intimidate an independent arm of government like the legislature is now a major threat to the survival of our democracy.

“The glaring witch-hunt of perceived opposition elements in the polity is an invitation to anarchy.
“The war against corruption should not be selective, must be fought with sincerity and not the politics that is being played now with the ‘war against corruption’.

“We therefore condemn in strong terms the sentiments displayed in fighting corruption. For example, the freezing of account of the Ekiti State governor, is clearly a political witch-hunt.

“Since the war against corruption has devolved into probing campaign funds, it should be extended to all parties, APC inclusive.

“The PDP Senate caucus therefore wishes to warn the executive arm of government to act with caution on matters that have the potency to subvert our democracy.

“The executive must therefore desist from these acts of lawlessness that are only typical in a military dictatorship.
“The caucus therefore wishes to advise the APC-led government to concentrate on the existing economic and security challenges that are threatening our survival as a nation.

“Finally, the PDP caucus wishes to reiterate that we will no longer support the APC government until they cease the belligerent attitude towards PDP members,” the caucus said.

Reacting to the statement by the Senate PDP caucus, the APC yesterday described the allegation of a selective anti-corruption fight levelled against the Muhammadu Buhari-administration as unfounded.

The APC said the opposition PDP did not have the right to dictate how the Buhari-led administration should fight corruption.

APC said this in a statement by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The party said this in its reaction to the declaration by the PDP National Assembly caucus that it had withdrawn its support for the Buhari administration following what it called the persecution of its members.

Buni said, “For the umpteenth time, the PDP and their agents do not have the luxury of dictating how the current administration and the anti-corruption agencies carry out their legitimate duties of investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption as long as they conform to the rule of law.

“The PDP Caucus must be reminded of their primary responsibility of law-making and representation of their constituents at the National Assembly.”

The ruling party advised the PDP Senate Caucus not to allow “political shenanigans” to becloud the overall national interest.

It said the caucus’ allegations of a selective anti-corruption fight and “belligerent” stance of the current administration was hogwash and baseless.