PDP Owns Restructuring, Chides APC As Pretenders

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as pretentious the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s current posturing on restructuring and the herdsmen killings across the country.

This is even as the opposition party warned that the APC is unfortunately playing pranks with issues of enormous national importance.

According to the PDP, not being the original initiators of the restructuring project, the APC is already confused and will remain lost on what to do for Nigeria to become a better place for its citizenry.

Laying claims to being originators of restructuring, the PDP insisted it is the only party that can drive the exercise as expressed in 2014 National Conference report.

The PDP’s position was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Ayo Fayose, after the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting and its Governor’s Forum in Asaba, Delta state.

The communiqué stated that the ruling APC is merely paying lip service to a matter of national importance as a later day convert of restructuring, hinting that it has already mandated its members in the National Assembly to commence the process of initiating restructuring.

It said; “The PDP has been the author of restructuring and this was further expressed in the report of the 2014 National Conference; the APC as a later day convert of restructuring is merely paying lip service to a matter of national importance, however, we mandated our members in the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of initiating a Bill to address issues bordering on restructuring.”

On the disturbing killings by herders across states of the federation, the PDP said; “We call on Mr President to come out clean on the herdsmen killings and address the nation on how to end the carnage; the President must take responsibility on the protection of lives and property of Nigerians which is the most important of his responsibility.

“We believe that the federal government’s decision to set up a committee to address the issues of herdsmen killings is a pretentious approach to a matter that requires firm action and leadership by the President in line with his oath of office to protect all Nigerians irrespective of creed, tribe or political affiliation.

The party also took APC on the activities of the anti-graft agencies, saying; “We urge Mr President to henceforth, direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to adhere to the Rule of Law by obeying Court judgments and orders, such as the one involving Ekiti State government against EFCC and restrain itself from further political intimidation and harassment of known or perceived political opponents.

The PDP however had commendation for the nation’s judiciary saying; “We commend the judiciary for their commitment to the enthronement of constitutional democracy in the face of intimidation and harassment.”

On the contrary, the PDP rejects the planned moves to withdraw funds from the Excess crude account for security purposes, stating that; “We emphasise that the PDP states and local governments are vehemently opposed to the unilateral withdrawal of USD one Billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government under any guise.”

“Neither the Governors’ Forum nor the Federal Executive Council has the power of appropriation of Federation Accounts; as such powers reside with the National and State Assemblies”, the communiqué said.

Furthermore, the current worrying situation of fuel scarcity in the country came under scrutiny at the meeting with the PDP condemning “the massive corruption going on in the management of fuel subsidy regime which the federal government had earlier declared as non-existent while billions of naira are deducted monthly at Federation Accounts Committee (FAAC) meetings.”