Anti-Corruption War: Oyegun Urges Nigerians to Remain Focused

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, has charged Nigerians, not to be carried away by the blackmail allegedly embarked upon by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari-led government. The APC therefore charged the PDP to feel free to go to any of the anti-graft agencies constitutionally created to take care of corruption cases with proof of corruption against any member of the APC or serving minister under the Buhari government. Odigie-Oyegun, in a statement said, “The APC is worried by PDP’s inciting statements. Respect for the office of the President or heads of government in any clime is not a matter of choice, but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws. Being an opposition party or a critic is no license to issue abusive, intemperate and slanderous statements on government officials; most especially the President of the country. “The PDP has proven that it is not a party to be trusted or taken seriously. Only recently, the PDP said in a December 24, 2015 statement: ”˜we urge that Nigerians should not recourse to hurling insults on the President’. “For the umpteenth time, the APC urges Nigerians, who see merit in the war that the President Buhari-led administration is waging against corruption, not to be distracted by the PDP and their agents of corruption to discredit the war. For the record, the ongoing war against corruption is not selective. Anybody guilty of corrupt practices will face the law. “If the PDP has any proof of corruption against any APC member or minister as alleged, we advise that they approach any of the anti-graft agencies constitutionally mandated to handle such cases. “PDP’s rant suggesting a selective anti-corruption fight by the present administration should be seen as a ploy meant to distract the citizenry from the successful ongoing war against graft. “The PDP does not have the luxury of dictating how the present administration carries out its legitimate duty of catching looters, as long as it conforms to the rule of law.” The opposition party had in the past described President Buhari’s anti-corruption onslaught as a vendetta against members and others associated with the PDP. The PDP, in a new year message, signed by its Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, maintained that the anti-graft war is meant to harass and intimidate members of the opposition. According to Secondus, “Nigerians have watched in bewilderment as the so-called change agenda of the APC has deepened the socioeconomic problems in the country, instead of building on the successes bequeathed to them by the PDP “Today the APC has governed for seven months and PDP can confidently say without any fear of contradiction that the APC was not prepared for governance. The APC is just a gang-up of aggrieved people to take over the reins of power. “To date, APC does not have a clear agenda on how to bring about the change they promised. As a result, Nigerians have seen the APC for all it is worth -an ill prepared party with an ill prepared agenda for governance. “Nigerians have seen the chaotic situation at hand, orchestrated by the incoherent policy initiatives of the APC led government. Yes, this is the reality we face. “From the confusion in the subsidy question, to the insurgency conundrum; from the discredited anti-corruption fight, to the confusion in the government’s economic policy. “Yet, the government has, by its own acts of omission and commission, presented itself as non-inclusive and sectional. “Consequently, we are now faced with a worsening fuel crisis; free fall of the Naira; job losses; worsening insurgency; the shiite/military clash; renewed Biafran agitation and general insecurity. “In the middle of all this, it is clear that the APC government is pursuing a one -party state agenda considering its inordinate schemes to take over PDP controlled states. “To worsen this state of misgovernance, the only active policy of this government, the anti-corruption fight, is being mismanaged. The PDP supports this policy wholeheartedly because it is fundamental to our drive towards national development as a country. “But it becomes counterproductive if it is pursued without following the rule of law and at the same time selectively targeting members of the opposition party. “For instance, some former PDP members who defected to the APC a few months ago, some of them, former governors, who were indicted in their states, are not being investigated. Rather, they are appointed into cabinet positions”. The statement further encourages Nigerians to always be in support of acts and policies geared towards the greater good of the nation and not those that pull the country and its people down.