…Says APC Should Be Held To Account For The Kogi Massacre
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu
Buhari to immediately recover over N28 billion meant for the
rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast, alleging that
members of the Presidency cabal and certain interests in his All Progressives Congress (APC) have stolen the money.
The party said the presidency and the APC are not being sincere with the
IDPs by providing cover for those who have been frittering away billions
of naira donated for the well-being of victims of insurgency.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola
Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, said the President cannot in all honesty claim
not to be aware of reported sharp practices, involving billions of naira
in the management of funds in the Presidential Initiative on the North
East, since the issues came into the public domain.
Ologbondiyan wrote: “Indeed, the Presidency cannot, in any way imaginable, claim not to be
aware of reports that sometime in August 2017, a cabinet minister and a
high ranking Presidency official were alleged to have diverted N18
billion from the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly for the
rehabilitation of millions of IDPs and rebuilding of six northeast
states ravaged by insurgency in the 2017 budget.
“The APC and the Buhari Presidency cannot claim to be unaware of the
damning report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a
public document which detailed how officials were using bulk of the
resources meant for the IDPs on contracts that were found to have
immensely benefitted officials of the APC Government including the
sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
“The Buhari Presidency and the APC cannot also claim to be unaware of the
motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how
persons known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered
N1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying
items to IDPs.
“Despite the open allegations, the Presidency has not taken any firm step
towards an open investigation into the alleged involvement of a cabinet
minister and top Presidency in the stealing of N18 billion IDP fund, not
to talk about recovering the stolen funds.
“The PDP recalled that it took immense pressure from Nigerians before
President Buhari could even sack his indicted former SGF, who, hitherto,
was enjoying the cover of the Presidency.
“All the IDP’s had got from the APC and Buhari-led Presidency are
excuses, false assurances, cosmetic condolence messages and crocodile
tears, while the cronies and cabal who are frittering away their funds
enjoy the protection of the government.
“Perhaps, this explains why Mr. President’s handlers, in all his visits
to troubled states, has ensured that he had no direct interaction with
the IDPs probably to avoid being directly taken to task on the stolen
fund.
“It is clear to Nigerians that the APC government swims in corruption and
concealment of sleazes, but stealing from the IDPs is what they least
expected. That, for majority of Nigerians, is the worst form of man’s
inhumanity to man.
“The PDP therefore stands in solidarity with those deprived victims and
we demand an end to this concealment of fraud and cosmetic concern for
the victims.
“The PDP also challenge Buhari Presidency to live true to its 2015
elections probity campaign by making the report of its administrative
investigations on sleaze involving the Cabal and other APC interests
public.
“The PDP also urge all Nigerians and the international community to join
hands and ensure that the funds are recovered from APC interests and
immediately released to the IDPs.”
Meanwhile, the PDP has charged the people of Kogi state
and the entire nation to hold the APC and
its government in Kogi and the federal level responsible for the
massacre of over 50 persons by marauders.
The party said after a thorough analysis of the circumstances and events
preceding the attack, there are crucial pointers that the APC and the
Kogi state government have very serious questions to answer.
The PDP in another statement by Ologbondiyan, on Saturday, said it is pertinent to
note that the attack was preceded by revelations of importation of military gadgets by
persons allegedly linked to the APC and the Kogi state Governor Yahaya
Bello.
The party said that APC and Kogi state government must respond to the
question troubling the mind of Nigerians on the perceived clandestine
involvement in activities that must have encouraged or aided those
behind the attack.
the PDP added: “From every indication, there is no how one can exonerate the APC and its
administration at the federal and Kogi state levels from this evil
against the people.
“We invite Nigerians and the international community to note that the
President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration did not take any definite
steps to ensure adequate security in the ravaged communities despite
series of alarms of security threats, the latest being the exposed
illegal smuggling of military gadgets into the state.
“In spite the allegations by the people of Kogi state that the military
equipment were being delivered to suspected marauders, the Buhari-led
Federal Government did not take an decisive steps to arrest and
investigate those fingered in the illegal trafficking, particularly the
already indicted aides of Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello.
“This raises questions of conspiracy against the people by the APC
government both at the federal and Kogi state levels.
“The question are; why did the Federal Government fail to deploy adequate
security to the communities in the face of obvious threats? Why has the
Buhari Presidency refused to take any firm step to investigate the
illegal importation of military equipment into Kogi state, even when
such gives a clue as to how marauders gain access to weapons?
“Furthermore, why did the APC, as a ruling party, fail to condemn the
illegal importation of security gadgets or even caution its government
in Kogi state, if it is not also involved in the illicit act that is now
being linked to this massacre?
“Now that the deed has been done, all we get are apathetic statements and
crocodile tears from the Federal and Kogi state government while those
behind the act are still walking free and probably targeting their next
victims.
“The PDP resolutely condemn this obvious betrayal of the people by the
APC-controlled government. We insist that life is sacred and must not
be used as a pawn by any person to achieve any aim under any guise
whatsoever.
“While we commiserate with the victims of the attack, we insist that the
Presidency and the Kogi state Government must be put to task on these
killings. The truth must be exposed.”