| The Peoples Democratic Party PDP has fired back at the opposition All Progressive Congress APC, describing its leaders as patrons of corruption.Specifically, PDP accused APC leaders of benefiting from what it called “the regime of sleaze that took place under Sanusi, adding that, the spirited defence of the suspended Central Bank Governor mounted by the APC was because the leaders of the party benefited immensely from the regime of sleaze that took place under Sanusi.”
The party’s counter-accusation was a swift response to the APC National Summit where it announced job creation and war against corruption as cardinal on its manifesto, accusing the ruling party of corruption and ineptitude. A statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, the ruling party also alleged that “a fraudulent N84 billion contract was awarded to a leader of the party while another 5billion Naira was paid to another stalwart of the party as consultancy fee.” “The PDP, it said, created anti corruption agencies- the ICPC, the EFCC and established the Freedom of Information Act to further give teeth to the war on graft. The PDP led federal government has also shown no preferences in its battle on corruption as senior party leaders as well relations have at one time or another been made to face the law on charges of corruption.” “On the contrary, the leaders of the APC are the grand patrons of corruption as could be seen from the South West APC states where a kilometre of road is awarded at N1 billion in a topography that compares nowhere to the marshy South South and where the self styled leader imperially superintendents the finances of six states with mind boggling cases of “The spirited defence for the suspended Central Bank Governor mounted by the APC was because the leaders of the party benefited immensely from the regime of sleaze that took place under Sanusi. A fraudulent 84 billion contract was awarded to a leader of the party while another 5billion Naira was paid to another stalwart of the party as consultancy fee. ” The PDP, also faulted the manifesto released by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja Thursday, describing it as “a product of a Janjaweed ideology, and a roadmap to anarchy typical of all In a cynical reference to the janjaweed militia in Niger Republic famous for its ruthlessness, the ruling party dismissed the manifesto of the opposition party as lacking in character, depth and completely addressed no issue.” Metuh, PDP said the manifesto which ranked security of lives and property low and gave no clue as to its preparedness to tackle terrorism was a tacit acknowledgment that the APC may be benefiting from the mayhem and knows more than meet the eyes about the spate of terror attacks in the country. “When last year in its first official outing, the leaders of the APC said terrorism in Nigeria would disappear within 100days of APC leadership, Nigerians did ask if they knew the characters in crime and their sponsors. APC gave silence as an answer while Nigerians kept wondering. Today, the Party has released its manifesto with loud silence on the matter so that On the issue of job creation and war on corruption which the party projected as cardinal on its manifesto, the PDP said the APC has no credible recipe for job creation nor has it shown the strength of character to fight corruption more than the PDP does at the moment. “The PDP created anti corruption agencies- the ICPC, the EFCC and established the Freedom of Information Act to further give teeth to the war on graft. The PDP led federal government has also shown no preferences in its battle on corruption as senior party leaders as well relations have at one time or another been made to face the law on charges of corruption.” “On the contrary, the leaders of the APC are the grand patrons of corruption as could be seen from the South West APC states where a kilometre of road is awarded at N1 billion in a topography that compares nowhere to the marshy South South and where the self styled leader imperially superintendents the finances of six states with mind boggling cases of “The spirited defence for the suspended Central Bank Governor mounted by the APC was because the leaders of the party benefited immensely from the regime of sleaze that took place under Sanusi. A fraudulent N84 billion contract was awarded to a leader of the party while another 5billion Naira was paid to another stalwart of the party as consultancy fee. ” According to the PDP, “nothing showcases the anti-democratic ambience of the APC than its inability to conduct a properly constituted congresses and convention to elect its substantive officers almost a year after formation, clearly stating that” the strange bed fellows have merged but the structures are refusing to integrate, hence, crisis and disagreements in “These disagreements played out on the high table today at the party’s summit as one of its leaders, Sen. Modu Sherif pointedly accused the leadership and the organizers of excluding and marginalizing a section of its founders. With persistent in-fighting at this cradle, how does APC hope to unify Nigerians and guarantee the survival of democracy,” the PDP asked. The PDP further described as tissue of lies, the claim by the APC that it was the first party to launch a code of conduct. “In 2006, the PDP launched a comprehensive code of conduct under an omnibus entitled “Survival Kit.” This kit contained documents such as Desirable Qualities of a Member and Code of Conduct for PDP aspirants and candidates. ” ” We also have the Peoples Democratic Institute, an intellectual arm of the party whose major work is the systemic research, inculcation and internalization of democratic ethos.” The PDP further said the recent opinion poll which the APC said it derived its manifesto is a familiar product from political party that subsists in lies and deception. “They sponsored same in Anambra and their governorship candidate, Chris Ngige came a distant third. This is after they sponsored same in Ondo where its candidate in the governorship election, Rotimi Akeredolu also came third.” The statement further warned that the unseen thrust of the APC manifesto is to balkanize Nigeria and cause disaffection among the people, citing the deportation of Nigerians from Lagos by an APC governor.
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