By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Pan Oyo Movement (POM) on Thursday described the court verdict which handed Senator AbdulFatai Buhari a clean bill of health over a debt default allegation by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as a welcome development.
According to the pressure group, the verdict stands as a victory for the good people of Oyo state even as it warned “those trying to play dirty politics with his name ahead of 2023 general election should bury the thought”.
In a statement by its Acting Chairman, Mr. Adewale Abdulsalam, and Secretary, Pastor Michael Abidoye, the group noted that “most discerning minds knew, from the onset, the report of the asset seizure was a sponsored attack on Sen. Buhari by some influential politicians who have always been intimidated by his soaring image and political pedigree especially as we approach the 2023 general election.
“We knew before hand that our darling enigma was not a type who would get himself enmeshed in any shady deal or betrayal of trust. We carried out our due diligence and got convinced about his character, pedigree and promise before making public our stand to throw him up for the Oyo state governorship ticket in 2023 and this latest development has further cemented our trust and confidence in him as he has proven again to be a man of honour and respect”, it said.
POM added, “when the news broke that AMCON had had to seize his properties over a spurious six hundred million loan issues, Sen. Buhari took it with calmness and decorum as he had no cause to run helter skelter even though he knew it was the handiwork of some political opponents”.
” He only spoke with his lawyers and few political associates while he continued his sterling stewardship to the good people of Oyo North senatorial district and Oyo state in general. And without making any media noise or employing self-help to establish his innocence and non-culpability in the AMCON mess, the Ibapon-born Prince demonstrated rare attributes of a patriot and democrat”.
The group maintained, ” in the end, the plot to tarnish his image fell like a pack of cards and the whole world has been made to see that he (Sen. Buhari) is not a betrayer of trust or chronic debtor as some evil forces had wanted to portray him”.
“To this end, we urge any of his political opponents and their supporters who may have been jolted by his decision to throw his hat into the ring and contest the gubernatorial ticket of the APC in 2023 to desist from playing dirty politics but rather seek to support the two-term Senator whose record of quality representation, service to humanity and decent practices remains unrivalled in the current political dispensation across the country.
” We also use this medium to appeal to the good of the state particularly leaders and members of Oyo APC to be wary of some anti-democratic forces who might want to employ all foul means to mar the conduct of the ongoing Congresses of the party as well as party primaries expected to hold next year. Only the best is good for Oyo state and with Sen. AbdulFatai Buhari, the Pacesetter state would return to the path of greatness in 2023.”
New Nigerian recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday described, as fraudulent, the purported court order empowering AMCON to seize some properties belonging to Sen. Buhari over a controversial loan issue between his private company and a commercial bank. Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered AMCON to vacate the premises of the two Abuja houses of the federal lawmaker immediately because the initial ex-parte order was fraudulently obtained from the court.
