*says Nigerians were warned about ruling party’s empty promises
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Main opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over what it describes as a failed anti-corruption war.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, PDP-NCC, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, titled: ‘Re: Buhari Launches Economic Recovery Plan…If This Is Pursued With The Same Commitment As The Fight Against Corruption, Then It’s Dead On Arrival – PDP.’
“We welcome and appreciate the Launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan by the All Progressive Congress (APC) led Federal Government on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at the State House, Abuja.
“The Launch of the Recovery and Growth Plan after almost two years into this Administration coupled with a year of economic recession has once again vindicated us and affirmed our earlier assertion that the All Progressive Congress (APC) led government came into office in May 2015 with no concrete economic blueprint and totally unprepared for governance,” it stated.
The party said that it is on record that they alerted the Nation after the 2015 General Elections on the empty promises of the APC and cautioned the Party to concentrate on governance.
“The blackmail and blame-game by the APC was and still is a cover up for its obvious lack of plan. Instead, the APC ran our economy into recession after wasting two years witch-hunting PDP members and perceived enemies of government without paying attention to building on the robust achievements of the PDP. Nigerians can testify to the hardship, pains, starvation, hunger and agony inflicted on the people by the ineptitude of the APC administration.
“The Recovery and Growth Plan is a proposal which requires implementation but we are worried because of the comments of President Muhammadu Buhari during the launch when he said “…I want to assure all Nigerians that we are approaching the solution to our economic challenges with the same will and commitment we have demonstrated in the fight against corruption, terrorism and militancy”. It is therefore instructive to note that if the Economic Recovery Plan will follow the way of the anti-corruption war so far, then, the Plan Document is dead on arrival,” it emphasized.
The party stressed that the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC led Government has failed based on the following:
“The APC led Administration has secured only one conviction since it started the anti-corruption fight in the last two years;
“The EFCC is yet to open its case against Col. Sambo Dasuki after his arrest and detention about 2 years ago;
“No single case is before any court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria against Alison Dieziani Maduekwe after all the allegation leveled against her by this administration;
“The Federal High Court in the last 72 hours has unfrozen the Account of the Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and dismissed the “No Case Submission” made by Chief Orubebe, Barr. Ozhekome and Justice Ademola and others which shows the cases were more for propaganda effect than substance,” it said.
PDP said that similarly, unwarranted freezing of accounts of other persons by the EFCC have also been reversed by competent Courts;
“Several Courts of competent jurisdiction have granted bails to a number of individuals being held by security agencies on corruption issues but the APC led government is yet to obey such Court Orders;
“While other Nigerians are suffering undue persecution by the APC led Administration, the following are yet to answer for various allegations leveled against them: The Chief of Staff to the President (CoS), Abba Kyari; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu; the Federal Government Committee on Northeast contract to ghost companies; alleged allegation against bribery by the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi and the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onuh; and many others,” it pointed out..
The party expressed worries over what it termed APC Government’s intention to really actualize “this lofty Plan (if it’s not the usual lies to the people) given the low state of Nigerian economy where government is borrowing domestically and internationally to fund its operations.
“The 2017 Budget is still a mirage. To buttress, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has declared that Nigeria is spending 66% of its interest revenue on debt. In other words, the Federal Government has only 34% of its revenue to tackle capital and recurrent expenditures and development,” it stated.
PDP said that in view of the above, Nigerians will agree with them that if the APC-led Administration wants to pursue the implementation of this proposed Recovery and Growth Plan the same way as the anti-corruption war.
“The people should not expect much from the Plan; more so when the remaining two years of this Government is in preparation for the 2019 General Elections,” it pointed out.
