If You Are Serious About Anti-Corruption, Probe Tinubu & Amaechi, PDP Tells EFCC

8 years ago

If You Are Serious About Anti-Corruption, Probe Tinubu & Amaechi, PDP Tells EFCC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu and former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi on the allegations of corruption.

This is coming after the party described as selective witch-hunt, the probing by the EFCC of PDP chieftains, who served in the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The phenomenon was highlighted by former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio when he led the PDP Senate Caucus to a courtesy call on the members of National Working Committee (NWC), of PDP.

Speaking at the occasion, acting National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the selective witch-hunt.

“So far, statistics show clearly that the EFCC has only arrested members of our party, those who served in government before. But there are APC governors, members of the APC, who have served in various governments who have been left alone,” Secondus said.

He expressed belief that if a government is very serious on anti- corruption, its mechanism should not be one sided or selective in going about the fight.

“Therefore, let’s use this medium to ask: are members of the APC, who were governors before clean? Have they given them clean bill of health? Or is this aimed at making sure that PDP doesn’t exist as an opposition party. To clampdown on the PDP ex-governors and ex-ministers,” Secondus added.

“They should visit their APC governors. We have seen on the pages of newspapers, allegations from Lagos State and Rivers State on the ex- governors. What is the EFCC doing to those allegations on the pages of newspapers?”

Secondus said the PDP wants the EFCC to go after Tinubu and Amaechi if indeed it is serious about fighting corruption in the country.

Commenting on the allegation against members of the NWC with regards to the N12 billion raised from nomination and expression of interest forms but which had been spent, Secondus said the money was spent for elections.

“The issue of N12 billion is not correct. The money is N11 billion plus. According to our Constitution, the money was shared between the states, local governments and the zones. States got 10 percent, zones got 5 percent and assignment got 15 percent and the rest was for the campaigns. We raise our money and have spent our money for elections.”

Earlier Akpabio had mentioned that PDP Staff Welfare Committee has tendered an apology to the NWC, advising them to remain humble so as not to be seen as being recalcitrant or working against the party.

Akpabio further stated that after listening to the NWC, the Senate Caucus support the need to downsize the staff strength, adding that there was no need to escalate the issue.
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