APC to PDP: You can’t tell us how to catch looters

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is blackmailing anti-corruption agencies by its “orchestrated attacks on the hugely successful war against corruption being waged by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration”.

The party said it was “aware of the plot by the PDP and their agents to stampede and blackmail anti-corruption agencies over ongoing corruption cases being investigated” but maintained that the opposition party could not dictate to it how it should go about the “legitimate duty of catching looters of public funds”.

“In three orchestrated press statements issued on Friday, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose among others, alleged plans by the APC and President Buhari’s administration to silence the opposition through a selective anti-corruption fight. Also, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, on Friday accused the APC of attempting to turn the country into a one party state,” Mai Mala Buni, APC’s national secretary, said in a statement on Saturday.

“The APC urges anti-corruption agencies not to be distracted by these syndicated and coordinated attacks and continue to employ all legal and legitimate avenues to bring to book all looters of our common wealth.

“It is clear that the PDP is out of sync and out of step with the generality of Nigerians on the clamour to bring to book all looters of public funds. The days of impunity are over. The PDP and treasury thieves must pay for the recklessness and shocking mis-management of public funds perpetuated under the defunct 16-year PDP rule. It is however reassuring that in spite of desperate and shameless attempts by the PDP and it’s agents to discredit President Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts, the war against corruption is being won.

“The PDP camp in baseless allegations accuses the president of a selective anti-corruption fight while members of the APC ‘with serious corruption allegations go about their businesses’. The PDP camp in continuation of its laughable conspiracy theories also speaks of ‘a calculated attempt to decimate and silence the opposition’ through the anti-corruption fight and an attempt to turn the country to a one-party state.

“The position of the APC has not changed. For the umpteenth time, if the PDP has any proof of corruption against any APC member as alleged, we advise that they approach any of the anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases. The ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices must face the law. The political will and sincerity of purpose of the present administration to tackle corruption from the roots to the upper echelons no matter whose ox is gored is unwavering.

“We advise individuals being investigated on corruption charges to cooperate with investigators instead of declaring innocence on newspaper pages and other media outlets.

“Again we state that the PDP and their agents do not have the luxury of dictating how the present administration and anti-corruption agencies carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters of public funds, as long as it conforms with the rule of law.

“On the allegation by the acting PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus that the APC is attempting to foist a one-party system on the country, such idle chat does not deserve a response.”