The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Monday asserted that no amount of intimidation, blackmail or propaganda by the presidency would prevent it from collaborating with Nigerians in requesting President Muhammadu Buhari to kick-starts the government and commence implementation of his campaign promises on which he rode into office.
Describing the presidency’s excuse of clearing the so-called Augean stable as lame and diversionary, the PDP reiterated its statement that the delay was creating loopholes through which some persons claiming closeness to the president “have infiltrated executive bodies, arm-twisting and conniving with unscrupulous elements to siphon the nation’s resources in the last 30 days.”
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, who restated this in a statement he personally signed, maintained that the party would not in any way be cowed by threats and wild allegations by the presidency into abdicating its responsibility of speaking out as an opposition party where the system is derailing.
The statement reads, “The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians were appalled by the response from the presidency regarding our call for prayers to enable the President Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration locate its bearing, compose a government and halt the prevailing stagnation with its huge negative impact on the system.
“Instead of addressing the issues raised, the presidency descended to insults, abuses and innuendos, a stance which not only bears out the case made by the PDP but also raises questions about the capacity of this administration to shoulder the enormous responsibility of governance.
“While we expect the present administration to be serious about the fight against corruption, probe and persecute each and everyone involved in such, irrespective of their party leaning, we restate that these must be done within the ambits of the law and must not be used as a witch-hunt ostensibly to discredit and undermine the opposition. We therefore caution against the current drama of politicising the issue of corruption in the country.
“Furthermore, the analogy of the Augean stable is completely baffling to us at this level as it goes to a great length to question the capacity and the sincerity of those around the president.
“In Greek mythology, Hercules, in his ingenuity, took the task and efficiently cleared the Augean stable in a day for which he demanded a reward of a tenth of fine cattle belonging to the king.
“Nigerians would not want to believe that in the so-called clearing of the Augean stable, although not delivering in one day, President Buhari wants to play Hercules in his demand, this time, by wanting to run the government alone without the statutory components of the executive as enshrined in the constitution.”
The opposition party further asked: “Is the so-called clearing of mess responsible for his inability, after 90 days of winning an election, to make up his mind on rudimentary appointments such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief of Staff and his demand for 15 special advisers as approved by the PDP-controlled seventh National Assembly since June 5, 2015?
“Perhaps we need to draw Buhari’s attention to the fact that while he is busy clearing his imaginary mess on the pages of newspapers, some persons claiming closeness to him have in the last 30 days been piling up sleazes that also need his attention in key agencies of government.
“Despite the absence of approving and supervising officials, key income generating institutions like NNPC, NIMASA, NPA, FIRS and other strategic agencies, have been invaded by persons claiming to be friends and associates of the president and this puts to question the sincerity and seriousness of the administration to effect the so-called change upon which they rode to power.
“Auxiliary to this is the issue of the construction of a helipad, among various expenses and other major government expenditure going on across board in the last one month and without due supervision as the eyes of the president cannot be everywhere.
“We therefore declare unequivocally that we do have respect for the person and office of the president especially considering his age and status as an elder statesman. However, we will like to make it very clear that the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria is neither a Sherriff in the old Wild West nor a military dictator in some banana republic. He is an elected president under a democratic setting,” it noted.
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