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Tag: National Publicity Secretary of the PDP

  • PDP alleges plot to impeach Fayose

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged plots by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

    A statement on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, cautioned the sponsors of the alleged plot to desist or attract “dire consequences”.

    The PDP further alleged that the impeachment plot was being arranged in connivance with the Police, warning the development was a recipe for crisis in the state.

    Read Also:Kashamu blames Fayose’s ‘arrogance’ for PDP’s defeat

    The statement said, “The PDP is aware that the plot is a desperate bid by the APC to rush into the Ekiti Government House to remove and tamper with documents and evidence confirming the rigging of the July 14 governorship election, ahead of the sitting of the election tribunal.

    “Having realised that there is no way their daylight robbery at the poll can stand in the court, the APC is now employing all desperate means to subvert the course of Justice.

    “This explains why a detachment of the Police can be hurriedly deployed to besiege the Ekiti State Assembly Complex last night without a formal request by the Speaker, the Clerk or the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is the chief security officer of the complex.

    “The PDP states that any resort to underhand measures to impeach Fayose, without the constitutionally required 2/3 of the members of the House, particularly at this time, when the lawmakers are currently on their annual recess, will surely be resisted by our members”

    Accusing the APC of plotting crisis all over the nation and resorting to the use of harassment, intimidation and brute force against the people and democratic institutions, the PDP warned that the development portends grave danger for the nation.

    “Now that the political and parliamentary establishment of the Ekiti House of Assembly has loudly declared that they do not require the services of the detachment of policemen, PDP charges the APC to immediately withdraw their armed agents from the premises of the House of Assembly.

    “Finally, the PDP urges the judiciary to be firm in standing by the truth on the Ekiti election and not be cowed or intimidated by the threats and pressure coming from the APC.

    “Nigerians know the truth regarding the rigging of the Ekiti guber election by the APC and are now looking up to the judiciary for justice in the matter”, the statement added.

  • Buhari’s ill health affecting his performance, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has noted that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot effectively discharge his official duties as a result of his ill health.

    Buttressing this point of view, the PDP said the President’s latest medical trip to the United Kingdom was a confirmation that “President  Buhari is unwell, ailing and unfit to attend to state matters.

    Addressing the media in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said it’s very unfortunate that the President and his handlers had chosen to shroud the issue of his persistent illness in secrecy whereas the government prides itself on claims of transparency and integrity.

    “Nigerians will recall that shortly before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, Mr. President, without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly, as required by the constitution, undertook a private visit to the UK, where his doctors are known to reside, five clear days ahead of CHOGM. Nigerians were left in the dark for the period despite demands for full disclosure by the PDP.

    “Only last week, two days after his departure from the United States where he had gone for a state visit, Mr. President went ‘missing’ again. When concerns began to mount on his whereabouts, the Presidency claimed he had a ‘technical stopover’ in the UK, citing flight issues, only for revelations to emerge from the same Presidency, on Monday, that Mr. President was actually in the UK to see his doctors.

    “In these circumstances, Nigerians were taken for granted, deceived and treated like lesser men and women without reasoning capacity, while our nation, at those periods, was left with no leadership as Mr. President refused to transmit power as required by the 1999 Constitution, as amended”.

    While stating that it has no objection to the President taking care of his ailing health, the party said Nigerians have come to detest the deception, lies and beguiling that have trailed the handling of Buhari’s  health issues.

    The PDP said it’s more concerned that Nigerians are being kept in the dark about the nature of the President’s ailment and the identity of the doctors and the hospital attending to him.

    The main opposition deplored a situation where a siting President would continue to embark on medical tourism abroad when his administration has completely refused to address the poor state of the health sector in the country, even as medical personnel are currently on strike across the nation.

    “In conclusion, we urge the Presidency to note that shrouding the issue of President Buhari’s illness in secrecy, just for political gains, is neither in the interest of the President nor that of our nation at large.

    “Sordidly, the handlers of Mr. President appear to be more concerned about the next election instead of the consequences of a failing health and the blatant breaches of our constitution. The PDP therefore counsels President Buhari to be well guided and take charge of his health challenges”, the PDP added.

    Read Also:Breaking: Buhari on a four-day U.K trip to see his doctor

     

  • PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

    PDP accuses APC of plot to sabotage its convention

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to sabotage its December 9 national convention.

    Citing “intelligence reports”, the PDP said the ruling party has perfected plans to sponsor a parallel convention using some unscrupulous members of the PDP to hold a parallel convention.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said the aim of the APC was to factionalise and destroy the opposition ahead of the 2019 elections.

    Adeyeye appealed to PDP members across the federation to resist such temptation, saying the party was doing everything to address grievances among its aspirants to the various executive positions ahead of the December 9 convention.

    “We are not completely oblivious of the plans by the APC to sabotage our convention. Apart from the internal fighting within the APC, one of the reasons why the party postponed its national convention till next year was to enable it closely monitor our convention with a view to destabilising our party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Adeyeye said, “The National Caretaker Committee has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous members of our party to hold a parallel national convention on December 9, 2017.

    “This is totally uncalled for and a complete act of sabotage. Those making such plans cannot be said to be honest members of our party, the PDP. They are not patriotic but just out to destroy our party.

    “The planned parallel convention is one of those ideas of the APC to create divisions amongst members of our party. It will be most unfortunate for members of our party to allow themselves to be used against the party, especially in the light of our recent painful experience.

    “These are all part of the agenda of the APC to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity around PDP members before and after the national convention. It is also part of the overall strategy of the ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one party state.

    “The National Caretaker Committee has been working very hard to carry all party members and supporters of the party along in all the preparations for the forthcoming national convention holding on December 9 – 10, 2017”.

    According to him, the plot by the APC was to capitalise on disagreements among the chairmanship aspirants of the PDP, assuring that the leadership of the party would address the aspirants’ grievances in an open and transparent manner before the convention.

    “We are putting our resources in place to address all the fears earlier reported by some national chairmanship aspirants. One of the steps being taken by the leadership is to make available and in good time, the comprehensive names of all the delegates for the national convention to all the aspirants before the convention.

    “We therefore see no reason for any honest member of this great party to want to disrupt our programmes, except they are of course working for the ruling party, the APC”, Adeyeye added.

    The party appealed to aggrieved aspirants and members to take advantage of available internal conflict resolution channels to ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances.

    It vowed to resist any moves by anyone to sabotage the convention, saying however that there was very little the party could do to dissuade members that may have decided to become paid agents of the APC.

    The party spokesman cited the arrest and detention of some key PDP stakeholders on what he described as trump up charges of corruption, saying that the ruling APC had already targeted no fewer than 50 of its prominent members for arrest and incarceration.

    Adeyeye said, “The APC propagandists said we were crying wolf. Now we are being vindicated by the continuing and unrelenting arrest, intimidation and harassment of our top leaders.

    “In the last one week, the former Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Abubakar Danladi and the former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two prominent members of our party, were arrested by the anti-graft agency, the EFCC. This is apart from the five that were earlier arrested within the month of November. We don’t know who will be next in the list”.

    The PDP called on Nigerians and the international community to be vigilant and to ensure that the APC did not entrench full blown dictatorship in the country.

    “The only reason why the APC is hell bent on killing the opposition in Nigeria is due to its nonperformance and inability to deliver on its campaign promises. They have failed Nigerians and they know too well that they can no longer convince Nigerians to vote for them again in 2019.

    “We want to assure members of our party nationwide that, the leadership of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi, will provide an enabling environment and a level playing field for all those contesting for one position or the other before and after the national convention.

    “We pledged to ensure a transparent, free and fair election and by the grace of God we are going to conduct the most democratic election in the history of any political party in Nigeria”, the party spokesman said.

  • PDP to Buhari: You can’t destroy opposition 

    PDP to Buhari: You can’t destroy opposition 

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against attempts to destroy opposition in the country, saying no amount of harassment will make the PDP crumble.

    In a statement on Wednesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration for persecuting the opposition for no justifiable reasons.

    “The latest needless onslaught against our party members is the plan by the APC government at the centre to incarcerate 50 members of our party before the end of this year with a view to using their arrest to deceive Nigerians that the failed anti-corruption war is still on course.

    “The dirty job, we are aware, has been handed over to the compromised anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Already, five members of our party have been illegally arrested and detained by EFCC without any charge preferred against them”, the statement said.

    Although the PDP said it could not immediately reveal the identities of about 45 of its members marked for arrest in the days ahead, the party said it was by no means scared of the persecution by the Buhari administration.

    Continuing, the party said, “We are sure that the daylight is about to break after the dark night of the APC administration. We wish to state clearly that what is ongoing under the Buhari administration is not a fight against corruption but an attempt at using members of the PDP as scapegoats and cover up for the ineffectual anti-corruption agenda of the current government.

    “The current wave of arrests therefore has nothing to do with the failed anti-corruption war but everything with 2019 elections. The ruling party failed on all its major election planks.

    “It has nothing to show for its over thirty months in office. The APC government has come to the conclusion that the only way to prevent its inevitable defeat at the polls in 2019 is to hound, harass, intimidate and suppress members of our party into submission.

    “However, we wish to state clearly that irrespective of what the APC government does in an attempt at bringing the PDP down to its knees, we shall remain irrepressible and will not bow to any tyranny.

    “The APC has already thrown away its chances in the 2019 elections by its non-performance. No amount of intimidation and harassment of the opposition will improve its fortunes.

    “We call on all men and women of goodwill to rise up to challenge the invidious attempt by the APC government to turn Nigeria into a gestapo state and undermine our hard earned democracy on the altar of political desperation”, the statement added.

  • PDP wants Buhari impeached

    PDP wants Buhari impeached

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the immediate impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari for “violating his oath of office”.

    The party also called for proper investigation and prosecution of the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and the ex-Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Ayodele Oke.

    A statement Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, accused Buhari of double standard in the anti-corruption war by shielding his aides and associates from prosecution while haunting opposition figure over alleged corruption.

    Describing the mere sacking of Babachir and Oke as a slap on the faces of Nigerians, the PDP insisted that they be handed off to the existing anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution the same way members of the opposition are being treated.

    The PDP said, “It is an insult on the-collective intelligence of our people who have waited patiently for the President’s reaction on the humongous act of corruption by two of his principal aides and this is totally unacceptable.

    “First and foremost, we had disagreed with the President last year when he decided to setup the panel headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to investigate the matter because we thought that was the wrong course of action to take.

    “Ordinarily, cases of corruption or alleged cases of misappropriation of funds are supposed to be referred to institutions that are saddled with the responsibility to investigate and prosecute such matters, which is the ICPC and the EFCC if there is any prima facie case against them.

    “But it appears not all animals are equal under the Buhari APC administration. Some people are treated with kid gloves while others, particularly those in opposition are subjected to all manner of harrowing experiences.

    “One of the senators of the APC, Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna State, succinctly put the matter when he said that this administration uses deodorant to fight corruption when it comes to some APC members and President Buhari’s kitchen cabinet, but uses insecticides when it involves members of the opposition and those in the National Assembly”.

    The opposition party wondered why it took the President almost one year to attend to the two cases while the culprits were having a field day at home and enjoying themselves.

    “Whereas, in the case of the opposition, especially PDP members, even when the evidence is flimsy, they will be visited with multiple harassment and intimidation for months and weeks without proper trial.

    “We cite the case of Sambo Dasuki who has been in detention for over two years even when many courts in Nigeria and the ECOWAS Court have ordered his release, the President has fragrantly disobeyed these court orders which again are a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “This is an impeachable offence. So the President cannot just sack Ayo Oke and Babachir Lawal and expects us to be clapping for him.

    “We believe that we are operating under a democracy and a Constitution that governs our affairs. To have subjected these people to different sets of rule and treatment is totally unacceptable.

    “Nigerians are the same under the law and Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke should not be tried by the Presidency while others are hounded by the EFCC and ICPC.

    “These actions of Mr. President are therefore a breach of his oath of office, which he swore to defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to be fair and just to all Nigerians without any discrimination whatsoever.

    “The action of the President is a gross violation of his constitutional oath and therefore constitutes a veritable ground for impeachment Using and applying different laws to different people in the country is a direct assault on the constitution and the rule of law .

    “Consequently, we call on the National Assembly to begin processes to impeach the President for breach of the Constitution and fragrance disobedience to the laws of Nigeria.

    “We totally reject these actions and the law should follow its full course on the issues of these officers. In other words, their case should be referred to the EFCC for proper investigation and trial, more so when the President has not told us what the report of the findings was”, the statement added.

    The party argued that Nigerians have the right to know the findings of the Osinbajo panel that investigated Babachir and Oke and insisted that the report should be made public since it is the people’s money that is involved.

    “The President has by his actions taken Nigeria to the level of a banana republic. We are not in a banana republic. This is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Three successive governments of the PDP did not act in the manner President Buhari is acting.

    “There is no doubt that the sudden sack of the SGF and the DG of NIA is just a consequence of the backlash on the Abdulrasheed Maina saga.

    “Up till now, there’s no answer to the pertinent questions we have asked on the Maina saga. The government cares less about the feelings and opinions of Nigerians. This kind of arrogance is unprecedented in the history of this county.

    “We again call for the arrest and investigation of the two Ministers involved in the return of Maina into the civil service, that is, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau and Abubakar Mallami, the Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice”, the party concluded.