PDP forms another strategy as ministerial list is out

                                                 
Political stalwarts from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ,have taken a swipe on the President Mohammadu Buhari's ministerial nominees, saying that the dominance of former  members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the list has lent validity to the opposition party as an indispensable force.

The party chieftains further carpeted the perceived lopsided appointments of President Buhari, which is believed to have denied a section of the country a sense of belonging.

The publicity Secretary of the PDP,  Olise Metuh, who threw the first pebble in an interview said that about the first 35 appointments made so far by President Mohammadu Buhari subordinated the interests of his close relations and close associates far above the national interest.

Chief Metuh said Buhari's actions were not only undemocratic, but also puerile, and lacked understanding of the plurality of Nigerian state.

"If things continue like this, where a President will wake up one morning  and appoint his brothers and sisters and parents to  key political offices in government, then, there will be nothing left of Nigeria, but absolute slide into a banana republic", remarked Metuh.

He further faulted President Buhari for allegedly adopting a system that encourages corruption, explaining that civil servants are now influenced to do things without due process.

The PDP spokesman advised President Buhari to focus more on the economy and stop making comments that appear to be harassing people. "Nigerians did not elect a president that will be threatening and harassing people. Let him strengthen the institutions that will fight corruption and then focus on the economy to deliver on his election promises. There has been too much noise just to discredit the PDP. Four months down the line, no single person has been charged to court. We recovered billions of Naira from Late Sani Abacha under former President Goodluck Jonathan without unnecessary noise making", Metuh recalled.

He warned the APC to desist from passing callous, spurious and defamatory comments on the former administration just to curry public support, stating that condemning people unnecessarily is a sin against God.

He however flattered Mr. President for appointing 90 percent of former PDP members as ministers. He said it is now left for Nigerians to put in perspective the APC's mantra of change with the ministerial nominees. 

"It is now clear that the APC cannot do without the PDP. The ministerial list has lent validity to the strength of the PDP. Our members have gained recognition overseas and in reputable organizations too, and here in Nigeria, the APC Federal Government is using our former members to drive the economy.”

In the same vein, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayos,e cautioned those who believe that President Buhari is a Saint, saying he (Buhari) is not a saint many perceive him to be.

Fayose who also took on President Buhari on issues bordering on recycling older politicians as ministers, lopsided appointments, selective probing, unconstitutional appointments, and invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House among others, said the only major achievement of Buhari’s administration so far has been the harassment of his opponents.

Fayose said Buhari was being praised for mere imaginary feats in office by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and political jobbers looking for appointments.

He said the nomination of former PDP members who are perceived to be 'spent forces' in his list, is to say  the least that the APC is bereft of fresh ideas.

The Ekiti State Governor wondered what any rational thinker could decipher from all the castigation and noise the ruling party has been making about the PDP when they dominate the ministerial list.

He alleged that the only achievement of President Buhari is that former President Jonathan and those who worked with him, PDP Governors and leaders are now targets of harassment, adding that “By this, the President is saying that it does not pay to be honourable. Dr Jonathan was honourable enough to allow a peaceful transition and conceded defeat, even though it was obvious that Buhari’s victory was questionable. Visiting such a person and those who worked with him with persecution as being done now, is no doubt a sad reminder of the reason we have many sit-tight leaders in Africa.

Interestingly, some of those who worked with Dr. Goodluck Jonathan that the APC called rogues are now being appointed to manage the affairs of international organisations like the World Bank and African Development Bank.

In the last 100 days of President Buhari, appointments he made have shown the president’s insensitivity to the ethnic diversity of Nigeria and contempt for the Constitution of the country.”

He described the Federal Government’s anti-corruption stance as mere noise-making, witch-hunt and diversionary tactic to hoodwink the public into overlooking the seeming failure of the government to deliver on its electoral promises.

The Governor said; “If President  Buhari knows exactly where the stolen funds are kept and who looted the funds, he does not need all these public announcements. Rather, he should make public names of the looters and bring back the purported stolen funds from  the locations he has identified. It is when he is able to bring back the money that he should make announcements of recovered funds.

“You don’t announce a process to the public. Rather, you announce the results because it is what interest the people. It is like you are announcing that you know where armed robbers reside, won’t they change their location?”

The governor further said; “What the APC spin-doctors and their collaborators in the Presidency are doing is simple. It is such that when there is nothing to tell the people as per the rising Boko Haram attacks, Dollar and other foreign currencies exchange rates, petrol pump price and other seeming failed promises of the APC federal government, they will accuse former President  Jonathan and his men of corruption, insult Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and make noise about fighting corruption.

President Buhari and his men should however know that Nigeria of today is different from that of 1983 and the system under which they are operating now is also different,” he said.

“Nigerians are watching and unlike 1983, nothing can prevent them from asking questions, which they are already asking.”

While challenging President Buhari to start the anti-corruption fight from his party, Governor Fayose said Nigerians know those who sponsored President Buhari’s election and are waiting for the President to reveal their sources of income.

In his own assessment of Buhari's government so far, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, Senior lecturer, Lagos State University, said President Buhari, rather than fighting corruption, has renewed corruption in all facets of his 100 days administration.

He accused President Buhari of nominating people with questionable characters as minister, stressing that it is absurd to appoint people who at one time proved to have stolen peoples' mandate with those who presently have EFCC on their necks. Dr. Pearse also accused President Buhari of gross abuse of Federal Character Act which no President before him had done with such impunity.

He condemned the recent arrest of people who came to testify at the Rivers State election Tribunal, saying that such damning action has made mockery of Nigerian Government and indeed, the police in a democracy. 

Dr. Pearse said the President was not elected to intimidate or harass people but to use relevant institutions to enforce the rule of law in all aspects of the life of the nationhood.

"If the institutions are encouraged and funded well, they will do their work without any hindrances. The Inspector General of Police does not need an order from the President before he could mobilize his boys to go after the kidnappers. It is institutions that fight corruption", Dr. Pearse concluded.