The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu
Buhari to immediately recover over N28 billion meant for the
rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast
but allegedly stolen by members of the Presidency cabal and certain
Interests in his All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party said the presidency and the APC are not being sincere with the
IDPs by providing cover for those who have been frittering away billions
of naira donated for the well-being of victims of insurgency.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola
Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, said the President cannot in all honesty claim
not to be aware of reported sharp practices, involving billions of naira
in the management of funds in the Presidential Initiative on the North
East, since the issues came into the public domain.
Indeed, the Presidency cannot, in any way imaginable, claim not to be
aware of reports that sometime in August 2017, a cabinet minister and a
high ranking Presidency official were alleged to have diverted N18
billion from the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly for the
rehabilitation of millions of IDPs and rebuilding of six northeast
states ravaged by insurgency in the 2017 budget.
The APC and the Buhari Presidency cannot claim to be unaware of the
damning report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a
public document which detailed how officials were using bulk of the
resources meant for the IDPs on contracts that were found to have
immensely benefitted officials of the APC Government including the
sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
The Buhari Presidency and the APC cannot also claim to be unaware of the
motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how
persons known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered
N1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying
items to IDPs.
Despite the open allegations, the Presidency has not taken any firm step
towards an open investigation into the alleged involvement of a cabinet
minister and top Presidency in the stealing of N18 billion IDP fund, not
to talk about recovering the stolen funds.
The PDP recalled that it took immense pressure from Nigerians before
President Buhari could even sack his indicted former SGF, who, hitherto,
was enjoying the cover of the Presidency.
All the IDP’s had got from the APC and Buhari-led Presidency are
excuses, false assurances, cosmetic condolence messages and crocodile
tears, while the cronies and cabal who are frittering away their funds
enjoy the protection of the government.
Perhaps, this explains why Mr. President’s handlers, in all his visits
to troubled states, has ensured that he had no direct interaction with
the IDPs probably to avoid being directly taken to task on the stolen
fund.
It is clear to Nigerians that the APC government swims in corruption and
concealment of sleazes, but stealing from the IDPs is what they least
expected. That, for majority of Nigerians, is the worst form of man’s
inhumanity to man.
The PDP therefore stands in solidarity with those deprived victims and
we demand an end to this concealment of fraud and cosmetic concern for
the victims.
The PDP also challenge Buhari Presidency to live true to its 2015
elections probity campaign by making the report of its administrative
investigations on sleaze involving the Cabal and other APC interests
public.
The PDP also urge all Nigerians and the international community to join
hands and ensure that the funds are recovered from APC interests and
immediately released to the IDPs.
