Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) should withdraw
the nomination of its governors and senators standing trial over allegations of
corruption if it wants to be taken seriously.
Shehu was reacting to a statement by the PDP that the
endorsement of Osagie Ize-Iyamu by President Muhammadu Buhari showed he
encourages corruption.
The PDP said the presentation of a party flag to a candidate
standing trial for corruption “right in the villa has shown to the world that
APC is indeed the headquarters of corruption”.
But Shehu, in a statement, took a jab at the major opposition party, saying the PDP had forgotten “its own history and antecedents”.
Shehu said though Ize-Iyamu is being prosecuted by the EFCC,
he is still a suspect until the court proves otherwise.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has been
struggling to clear its name from alleged deals with the underworld in Dubai
and the United States has, to our surprise, found the voice to attack the
anti-corruption war of the Muhammadu Buhari administration following the
President’s endorsement of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives
Congress, APC’s dashing candidate for the governorship election in Edo State.
“Let PDP first withdraw the governorship nominations it gave
to Ahmadu Fintiri and Bala Mohammed of Adamawa and Bauchi States respectively,
before it opens its mouth and talk on the efforts of this administration in
fighting corruption. Or else, it should shut its mouth forever and leave us to
do what it dares not attempt.
“Both PDP governors were actually on bail from criminal
trial on several counts of fraud and embezzlement.
“Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on
Friday, July 1, 2016, granted bail to the former acting governor of Adamawa
State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. He was charged on June 30, 2016 by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside his company, Mayim
Construction and Properties Limited on a five-count charge of money laundering
to the tune of N2.9 billion.
“In the case of Bala Mohammed, the PDP Governor of Bauchi
State, the EFCC, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, arraigned the former Minister of
the Federal Capital Territory, before Justice A. M. Talba of the Federal
Capital Territory, High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja, on a six-count charge
bordering on abuse of office, false declaration of assets and fraud to the tune
of N864 million.”
“Under the country‘s laws, only the courts can convict. A
suspect remains a suspect until conviction.
“But, if in the view of the PDP, a suspect is guilty as
charged, then they must show examples by withdrawing the nomination of their
governors and the party’s numerous Senators and other legislators standing
trial in various courts of the country.”
He said the PDP “which destroyed the country’s economy while
in power” has no moral authority to criticise the Buhari administration.
“A party which 16 years in office destroyed the country’s
economy and infrastructure has no moral authority to criticize the accelerated
infrastructure development drive, largely drawing its energy from the Buhari
anti-corruption campaign,” Shehu said.
“A government that sees corruption in the past
administration and sees corruption in its own administration, and fights it
with equal gusto, cannot be placed on the same scale with those who, by their
words and deeds said corruption is a way of life and Nigerians should learn to
live with it.
“This clean-up drive by the President Buhari administration
will only speed up with the ongoing investigations and trials.”
He added that the cleansing exercise of the Buhari
administration will not be stopped by naysayers.
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