The Arewa Youth Movement for Good Governance on Wednesday warned the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), to immediately put its house in order.
The group said the party was taking the same root that led to the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, Ibrahim A. Abdulahi, leading other executive members, said while the fight against corruption was commendable, it had become selective and a witch-hunt.
According to him, “The fight against corruption is rather selective and requires redress in order to stand by President Muhammadu Buhari’s inaugural speech “I belong to everybody, I belong to nobody.’”
The president, he said, was a beneficiary of the rule of law and must be seen by all as someone who must equally respect the rule of law to the later.
Abdullahi observed, “The trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki smells the handwriting of mischief, makers who are determined to rubbish the All Progressive Congress (APC), if necessary measures are not taken and on time.
“Dr. Saraki has contributed in no small measures both financially and morally to the successes recorded by the All Progressive Congress and his travail is the handwork of those who does not want him as Senate President.
“Saraki’s trial is not in accordance with due process and in compliance to the Act that establish the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
“Let it be known that the way and manner the All Progressive Congress is trending is the same way that led to the downfall of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed. It is on record that Dr. Saraki gave his personal resources and energy to ensure that the All Progressive Congress emerged victorious both at the national, state and local government level in the 2015 general elections in the country.
“The question is why is the case of Saraki being treated differently at the Code of Conduct Tribunal that in 2011 struck out the case against one of our national leaders because he was not given the opportunity to deny or admit the alleged discrepancies in his asset declaration forms in line with section 3 (d) of the CCB/CCT Act.
“As we all know, it would be recalled that Saraki assumed the office of the senate president against the wish of the party, the APC, Ahmad Lawal being the preferred candidate of the party, but Saraki was elected by his colleagues on the floor of the House on June 9, 2015.
“It was in the midst of the turmoil that Saraki was dragged before the tribunal, hence his declaration. Saraki’s trial is the handwork of powerful people who are not happy with his emergence as senate president.
“The continued trial of the senate president at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is worrisome in view of the manifest flaws in the processes leading to the trial of Saraki.
“We are surprised that the leadership of APC has decided to sit on the fence and watch Saraki going into the trial without them doing anything.
“We have not forgotten so soon how Saraki led scores of senators to cross over to the All Progressives Congress on the floor of the senate.
“Also, same Dr. Saraki led other five (5) governors of the PDP into APC, a development that successfully turned the political tide against electoral scale during the 2015 general elections.
“So, we as a group condemn the silence of the party and Mr. President over the trial of the Senate President. If not witch hunting, how can the number three citizen of a country be brought before a tribunal over alleged irregularities in his asset declaration forms 13 years ago and the party he belongs will not come out to show solidarity or defend him?” .
Comments