Lukman to PDP: Before rescuing Nigeria, probe funds spent on your abandoned HQ

Salihu Lukman, director-general of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should probe the N27 billion raised for the construction of its headquarters before thinking of rescuing Nigeria.

The project, located in the Central Business District (CBD) in the federal capital territory (FCT), has been abandoned for years. The opposition party reportedly raised N27 billion for the project.

A newly national working committee (NWC) of the party led by Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman, was elected at its convention at the weekend in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Monday, Lukman said a party that is committed to rescuing Nigeria should first fix itself.

“It may be necessary to also request the newly elected leadership of PDP under Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to perhaps investigate the management of funds mobilised for the construction of the 12-storey PDP national secretariat located on Muhammadu Buhari way, Central Business District, Abuja, which is now abandoned as a demonstration of commitment to rescue Nigeria,” he said.

“Having mobilised close to N30 billion and expended over N16 billion, a born-again PDP leadership committed to rescuing Nigeria should be able to fix its internal problems first.

“Like it is often said, charity begins at home. A party that is committed to rescuing Nigeria should first and foremost rescue itself from its internal adversaries.”

Lukman said the All Progressives Congress (APC) must use its national convention to demonstrate its commitment to change Nigeria.

“Apart from electing leaders, the manifesto of the party should be subjected to amendment debate,” he said.

“As part of the commitment to change Nigerian politics, APC must unambiguously commit itself to the unity of Nigeria based on governance initiatives founded on the principles of fairness and equitable access to resources and opportunities by all Nigerians from every part of the country.

“As APC prepares for its national convention, issues of the unity of the country and responses to national security challenges should be priorities.

“Just like election of leaders, how APC wants to continue with the task of responding to challenges of insecurity should be part of the agenda of the APC national convention based on which a decision is taken at the convention by way of adopting an amendment to the party’s manifesto through majority votes by delegates.”