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Tag: PDP

  • Looters List: plot to divert attention, says PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described  the looters  list released by the Federal Government as part of ploy by the government to divert  people attention  from public discourse.
    The Party made the observation  in a statement issued by  its Natural Publicity Secretary,  Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja.
    LIt said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) have failed in its ploy to use the looters lists to divert public discourse from the raging questions on their numerous scandals, manifest sleazes and overall failures in governance.
    The PDP, said the nation has now seen that the Federal Government has no case against the PDP.
    It noted that the lists only had individuals who were not indicted or convicted for corruption, adding that some of them were not even members of the PDP.
    “It is now a notorious fact that the whole essence of the flimsy and
    contemptible lists was to cause public misperception, ‘change the
    topic’, and divert international and national discourse from various
    serious issues.”
    These according to PDP include the “parlous state of the nation’s economy” for which Nigerians now resorting to vices, including slavery and suicide as options.
    It also listed  intensive global criticism of  APC-led government, particularly with the latest from  Bill Gates and  eminent statesmen.
    These according  to the party include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military
    President Ibrahim Babangida and former minister of defence and ex-Chief of Army staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.
    “The international interest over speculations of conspiracy theorem on the alleged manipulation of security in the abduction and return of the Dapchi schoolgirls for which Amnesty International (AI) has called for an open inquest.
    “The international embarrassment over alleged procurement of the Martin Luther King Jr Award for President Buhari, which has now attracted global opprobrium to our dear nation and entire citizenry.”
    It also listed the N9 trillion  corrupt oil contracts at the NNPC, alleged stealing of N1.1 trillion worth of crude oil, looting of N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention fund and the alleged stealing of N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as part of the iasues.
     “These are issues that cannot be swept under the carpet using any ploy whatsoever.
    “While we still challenge the APC to name any members of the repositioned and rebranded PDP convicted for corruption, we wish to remind them that our three-day ultimatum to explain the source of looted fund to finance President Buhari’s 2015 campaign still subsist.
     “No amount of blackmail or intimidation can stop Nigerians from holding the dysfunctional APC accountable,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government through, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Informants and Culture, had released a list of persons who allegedly looted dry Nigeria’s economy under PDP watch, describing the list as just a tip of the iceberg.

    Among those listed were, the PDP Chairman Uche Secondus, saying he on the Feb. 19, 2015 took N200 million only from the office of then NSA

    “Then PDP Financial Secretary on the 24th of Oct. 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of then NSA.

    “Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh, who is on trial for collecting N1.4billion from the office of then NSA.

    “Dr Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications – On trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA

    “ Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei – On trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies

    “Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaol – on Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA,” Mohammed listed.(NAN)

  • PDP seeks proscription of APC over loot campaign

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately proscribe the All Progressives Congress (APC) following what the opposition party described as “undisputed revelations” that it financed President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 campaign with looted funds.

    The party, in a statement  by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also gave the Buhari-led Presidency a three-day ultimatum to respond to allegations that it was elected with looted funds or find itself top on the list of confirmed looters.

    The party said instead of the Presidency and the APC to come out with a response to how President Buhari’s 2015 campaign was funded with looted sums, they are busy “hallucinating” about names of individuals whose matters are before the courts of competent jurisdiction.

    The statement said: “It is evidently clear that the APC, Federal Government and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, are running away from the issue of how they raised money to install Buhari as President.

    “They have pressed the panic button and resorted to unfounded allegations against PDP members just to divert the attention of Nigerians and the international community from their atrocious government and its manifold failures of leadership.

    “The PDP will not join the panicky APC and the Federal Government in their resort to engage in matters that are subjudice because we believe and respect the rule of law, particularly as it concerns the rights of every citizen.

    “We know those in the APC and Buhari’s cabinet, who as champions of looting, plundered the resources of their various states and handed same over for the very expensive electioneering campaign of President Buhari, who had earlier confessed of his insolvency.

    “We have challenged the APC and the Presidency to declare the sources of these funds and how they were used since they have been proven to come from public coffers.

    “Now that the APC, the Federal Government, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Buhari Presidency have chosen a loud silence rather than accepting that looted funds were used to install Buhari as President in 2015, we charge INEC to do the needful by commencing the process for the proscription of the APC as a political party.”

  • FG avoiding issue we raised on looters’ list, says PDP

    •Fani-Kayode kicks

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused the Federal Government of avoiding the issue it raised on the looters’ list.

    Spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, in a telephone interview with our correspondent said: “The APC, the federal government and Alhaji Lai Mohammed are being desperate and they are dodging issues. We have raised the issue that where did they raise funds for President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaign.

    “That is the question for which Nigerians are waiting for answers. All these names they are bandying about are in the public domain. Most of the cases are in court.

    “They are mere allegations and according to the Nigerian Constitution, you are innocent until proven guilty. So if you are bandying allegations. It’s just a mere list. It don’t hold water.

    “The question Nigerians are asking is that Buhari said he was an insolvent person, that he didn’t have money before the 2015 elections. So where did he get the money he used for his 2015 presidential election?”

    Former Aviation Minister Fani-Kayode said the Federal Government was resorting to cheap blackmail because it had no evidence and could not secure his conviction in court.

    The former minister said, “If they are serious about putting together the list of looters, the first name that should be there is that of President Muhammadu Buhari, Yemi Osinbajo and third, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola, Lai Mohammed, Babachir Lawal, Abdulrasheed Maina, Abdulrahman Dambazau and Isa Jafaru.

    “All these persons either donated money or received money during the 2015 elections and these were public funds.”

    Fani-Kayode said he received N800m from the then Director of Finance of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, during the build-up to the last election.

    He, however, argued that the money was not from the government but from private individuals.

    The ex-minister added, “It is not true that I collected one penny let alone N800m from any government agency. I got N800m to run the media and publicity section of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign and the money was given to me by the Director of Finance, Nenadi Usman.

    “The money was transferred to me through a private organisation. The money was given to me by her and it had nothing to do with government funds. These were monies collected from private sector people who wanted to support us in the campaign.”

     

  • PDP: Mantu didn’t rig elections for us

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked rumours that former Senate President Ibrahim Mantu rigged elections in its favour.

    The party was reacting to the advice by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Nigerian’s should learn from Mantu’s claims on how he rigged elections.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Mantu’s claims were personal to him and had nothing to do with the PDP. He said the party had never directed any of its members to rig election on its behalf, at any point since its formation.

    Mantu spoke about his personal activities and tendencies in the elections he participated in.

    The statement reads: “Individuals run their elections on the platform of political parties once they emerge as candidates. In the PDP, candidates are issued with the party’s Code of Conduct containing the basic rules of electioneering engagements.

    “There is nowhere in the rule of engagement where candidates or party members are directed to rig elections on the party’s behalf. If any member’s conduct transgressed these basic rules of engagement, that individual did not act on behalf of the PDP, and as such the party cannot be vicariously held responsible.

    “It will therefore be misplaced for anybody, including the APC, to surmise that Senator Mantu, in the said confession of rigging, acted on behalf of the PDP. After all, in 2007, Senator Mantu lost his own senatorial election. What, then, happened to his rigging machinery, if he could not deliver himself?

    “We urge the APC to manage its manifest failures in party administration as well as its incompetency, lack-lustre and wobbling governance which has grounded the country’s economy and brought hunger and starvation to our people.”

  • Mantu’s election rigging confession personal to him – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the former Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu’s confession that he rigged election for the party is personal to him.

    The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday in Abuja said that the claim has no nothing to do with the PDP.

    He said that the party had never directed any of its members to rig election on its behalf, at any point since its formation.

    Ologbondiyan dismissed the advice by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to learn from former Mantu’s claims on how he rigged elections.

    He said that Mantu spoke about his personal activities and tendencies in the elections where he participated.

    “”The PDP has never directed or had any pact with him to rig election on its behalf. Never!

    “Individuals run their elections on the platform of political parties once they emerge as candidates.

    “In the PDP, candidates are issued with the party’s Code of Conduct containing the basic rules of electioneering engagements.

    “There is nowhere in this rules of engagement where candidates or party members are directed to rig elections on behalf of the party.

    ““If any member’s conduct transgressed these basic rules of engagement, that individual did not act on behalf of the PDP, and as such the party cannot be vicariously held responsible.

    “It will therefore be misplaced for anybody, including the APC, to surmise that Sen Mantu, in the said confession of rigging, acted on behalf of the PDP.

    “After all, in 2007, Sen Mantu lost his own senatorial election. What, then, happened to his rigging machinery, if he could not deliver himself.’’ He explained.

    Ologbondiyan urged the APC to manage its failures in party administration and other problems that has affected the nation and Nigerians negatively.

    Mantu was reported to have disclosed during a programme on a television that he helped PDP to rig elections in the past election. (NAN)

  • Breaking: FG releases fresh list of 23 alleged PDP ‘looters’

    The Federal Government has reacted to the barrage of attacks by some of the named alleged treasury looters and has gone further to name 23 others, most of them members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In a press statement, Minister of Information and Culture, ALhaji Lai Mohammed said the list of alleged looters which Government released earlier was based on verifiable facts, including the amount involved, the date the amount in question was collected and from where it was taken.

    Mohammed, also said those complaining that the list was too short apparently did not understand that it was strategically released as a teaser.

    “At the press conference where the list was released, I did say it was a tip of the iceberg. Apparently, this does not mean anything to people whose style is to comment on issues they barely understand, or just to shoot down anything coming from the government,” he said, adding that the Federal Government has a large number of alleged looters on its list.

    Alhaji Mohammed slammed the PDP for daring to challenge the Federal Government over an issue that the party knows is its weakness: Looting
    of public treasury.

    ”What was the PDP expecting when it challenged the FG to name the looters of the public treasury under the party’s watch? Did the PDP actually believe that the massive looting under its watch was a joke?
    Did they think it is April Fool?” he queried.

    The Minister said the PDP’s reaction to the looters’ list has shown that its recent apology is an election-induced act, contrived to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians to vote for the party in the 2019 general election, even when it has not come clean on its looting spree during its time in office.

    ”The hysterical and panicky reaction from the PDP has shown that the party is not at all sincere about its choreographed apology. Were it not the case, the party would have followed in the footsteps of one of its leaders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, who simply owned up to his role in the party’s rigging in the past elections and said he had turned a new
    leaf.

    ”It is said that a true confession is done in humility with an attitude of repentance. It is clear that the PDP does not know this,
    hence its resort to hubris instead of humility and genuine penitence,” he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into silence, adding that it will also not
    rest until all those who looted the public treasury have been brought to justice.

    SECOND BATCH OF ALLEGED LOOTERS AND THE AMOUNT ALLEGEDLY EMBEZZLED

    1. Former NSA Sambo Dasuki: Based on EFCC investigations and findings
    alone (this is beside the ongoing $2.1billion military equipment
    scandal), a total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million
    British Pounds was embezzled through his office. A good number of
    these monies were simply shared to persons and companies without any
    formal contract awards.

    2. Former Petroleum Resources Minister Dieziani Alison-Madukwe: In
    just one of the cases the EFCC is investigating involving her, about
    N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled. She is also involved in
    the Strategic Alliance Contracts of the NNPC, where the firms of Jide
    Omokore and Kola Aluko got oil blocks but never paid government taxes
    and royalty. About $3 billion was involved. The Federal Government is
    charging Omokore and Aluko and will use all legal instruments local
    and international to ensure justice.

    3. Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah: N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion
    recovered by EFCC in cash and property

    4. Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika: N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far.

    5. Alex Barde, former Chief of Defence Staff: N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property already.

    6. Inde Dikko: former CG Customs: N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties.

    7. Air Marshal Adesola Amosun: N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash. 28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered.

    8. Senator Bala Mohammed, former FCT Minister: N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

    9. Senator Stella Oduah: N9.8 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured.

    10. Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu: N1.6 billion – from NSA.

    11. Senator Jonah Jang, former Plateau State Governor: N12.5 billion.

    12. Bashir Yuguda, former Minister of State for Finance: N1.5 billion. $829,800 recovered.

    13. Senator Peter Nwaboshi: N1.5 billion

    14. Aliyu Usman: Former NSA Dasuki’s aide: N512 million

    15. Ahmad Idris: Former NSA Dasuki’s PA: N1.5 billion

    16. Rasheed Ladoja: Former Oyo Governor: N500 million

    17. Tom Ikimi: N300 million

    18. Femi Fani-Kayode: N866 million

    19. Hassan Tukur, former PPS to President Goodluck: $1.7 million

    20. Nenadi Usman: N1.5 billion

    21. Benedicta Iroha: N1.7 billion

    22. Aliyu Usman Jawaz: Close ally of former NSA Dasuki: N882 million

    23. Godknows Igali: Over N7 billion

  • PDP replies APC, lists cases of alleged looting under Buhari

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday listed cases of alleged looting by officials of the Federal Government.

    The party was reacting to the list of “PDP looters” released in Lagos on Friday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Mohammed had listed the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus; chairman of DARR Communication, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, among the alleged looters.

    But in a swift reaction, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said for the All Progressive Congress (APC) to accuse members of the PDP of treasury looting is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

    In a statement, the party listed cases of alleged looting by officials of the federal government in the Buhari administration but which the PDP said have been swept under the carpet.

    “This is a government that is yet to account for $26 billion (N9 trillion) stolen through corrupt oil contracts in the NNPC, N1.1 trillion worth of crude diverted to service APC interests, N18 billion Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) intervention fund stolen by APC officials, including their former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

    “The N10 billion National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for which members of the Buhari cabal were indicted, as well as the Mainagate, where the APC government recalled and reinstated an individual indicted for scam running into billions of naira,” the PDP stated.

    Dismissing the list released by Mohammed as hollow and laughable, the PDP challenged the minister to name any of its members that has been convicted for treasury looting.

    The party said the list is an extension of federal government’s media trial of its members and challenged it to come up with names of its members against whom the federal government had secured convictions.

    It added: “The list put forward by the federal government as purported looters amounts to a cheap blackmail as none of those listed have been indicted or convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction or any panel of enquiry in our country.

    “The list issued by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, only goes to show that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency have no prove of corruption against the PDP.”

    The party said in its frenzy and desperation, the federal government even included names of individuals who are not standing trial or under investigation for any act of corruption, as well as those who are not even PDP members.

    “The Buhari-led federal government has manifested its frenzy by going after matters that are in court and in which none of the persons have been convicted, thus betraying their wickedness and desperation to mislead the public, the court and divert attention from the heavy looting involving their members.

    “We are not in doubt that the individuals he has mentioned will take their legitimate stride and pursue appropriate action in the court.

    “However, attacks on individuals, who are members of our party, do not in any way detract from the fact that the PDP, as a political platform, is not a party of corruption.

    “It is unfortunate that the APC and its government under whose watch horrendous sleazes are happening on a daily basis and a government that has failed to fulfill the littlest of its campaign promises, can spend a wholesome three years searching for flimsy allegations to discredit our party and its members.”

     

     

  • Fed Govt releases list of PDP ‘looters’

     

    In response to the challenge by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the federal government to name its members who looted the nation’s treasury under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Information Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Friday released a list six PDP ‘looters’

    The list is as follows:

    1. PDP CHAIRMAN UCHE SECONDUS

    – On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of then NSA

     

    1. Then PDP FInancial Secretary

    – On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of then NSA

     

    1. Then National Publicity Secretary Olisah Metuh

    – On trial for collecting N1.4b from the office of then NSA

     

    1. Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of DAAR Communications

    – On trial for taking N2.1 billion from the office of then NSA

     

    1. Former SSA to President Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei

    – On trial over N830 million kept in accounts of four different companies

     

    6  Former President Jonathan’s Cousin Robert Azibaola

    – On Thursday, a Federal High Court ruled that he has a case to answer

    for collecting $40 million from the office of then NSA

     

    The minister said the list is just a tip of the iceberg, stating that ” the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available.”

    “Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch.

    Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology to Nigerians.

    “We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP, and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them toreturn the loot.

    “It’s like a robber admitting to stealing your car and apologizing, but then saying he will keep the car anyway. It doesn’t work that way.

    “The PDP is a hypocrite. And that reminds me of what English writer William Hazlitt said: ”The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.

    “We will not stop talking about the massive looting by the PDP. They brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. We are now looking around for loans to build infrastructure, and they ask us not to talk about it. we will talk about it,” Muhammed stated

     

  • 2019: Engage more youths, women, PDP chieftan urges

    A chieftain of the People Democratic Party, (PDP) Adetunji Omotola has called on the leadership of party to engage more youths and women, especially those in the diaspora in it effort to win the 2019 election.

    Omotola, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, South Africa Chapter, said this in a statement made available to The Nation yesterday from Johannesburg.

    He said the party can not chose to ignore the youths, women and the elderly especially those in the diaspora as they have the resources, numbers and technical skill to bring fortune to the party in 2019.

    “the party political machinery must talk to young people through social media and build active citizenry for good governance for the country. We the diasporas believe strongly that there must be reform in our political system and our political economy for the betterness of  our country”.

    “We deserve to be at the table and not on the menu. Some of us have spent over 25 years in more than three or four climes. In my case, I have done 25 in United Kingdom and South Africa. These two countries are very critical to various sectors of the Nigerian economy and one could to that, Africa and even then, global economy”.

    “Let work together to build a strong political party like the Conservative Party, the Democratic Party, The African National Congress, Cha Cha Mapinduzi, ZANU-PF so that we can build a new nation that our founders would be so proud of”.

    Omolola, also the Founder of The Guild of Nigerian Professionals South Africa and a candidate in the forthcoming House of Representative election in2019, further said he believes strongly in building a modern political party with credible candidates and a clear message.

    “One can be elected to serve in a democracy and that special position requires experience, dedication, integrity, patience, tolerance, vision to bring about prosperity to millions of people. We deserve to be at the table and not on the menu. Some of us have spent over 25 years in more than three or four climes. In my case, I have done 25 in United Kingdom and South Africa”.

  • 2019: Let’s give Atiku Abubakar a chance, lawmaker urges PDP

    Mr Dipo Olorunrinu, (PDP Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I), Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the party to give former Vice-President Atiku Abukakar a chance to run for the 2019 Presidential election.

    Olorunrinu, the only PDP member in the state Assembly, gave the advice in an interview with the News men in Lagos on Wednesday.

    “Let me quickly congratulate his (Abubakar’s) boldness and courage to come out for this position at a time when our party needs a very credible and formidable personality.

    “Abukakar is someone that has people around him. We should give him a very big applaud for coming out.
    “Let’s see what he has on the table. Personally, I want to appreciate his decision to rule.

    “The truth is that, Abubakar’s declaration will actually give the ruling party a run not just for their money, but also their interest in governing in 2019.

    “Abubakar is somebody that cuts across geo-political and ethnic zones and he should be given a chance,” Olorunrinu said.

    The lawmaker said that Abubakar had garnered enough experience over the years and not seen to be a tribalistic person but a nationalistic politician.

    Read Also: 2019: Atiku pledges 40% affirmative action for youths

    He said that some people didn’t want Abubakar because of their personal interest.

    On the rising number of PDP aspirants for the seat of the President, the lawmaker urged them to support the best aspirant that could guarantee victory for the party in 2019.

    He urged all aspirants to desist from selfish interest that could ruin the PDP’s chances in the next general elections, saying that the party should be fair to all.

    On the apology tendered by the PDP to Nigerians for its past mistakes, Olorunrinu said that the step showed the party’s remorsefulness, sympathy and readiness to make Nigeria great again.

    “I can assure you, the party might have failed but learnt how not to fail again.”

    Abubakar officially declared his intention to run for the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP on Tuesday in Rivers.
    His declaration came few months after he left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Abubakar made his position known while addressing stakeholders of the PDP drawn from the 23 local government areas of Rivers at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    NAN