By Michael Peter, The Sight News
The All Progressives Congress,APC has kicked against the statement issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the $1 billion approved by the Federal Government from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the prosecution of war against terror.
The APC rubbished the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party that the $1 Billion approved by the Federal Government for the purchase of arms was fund for the 2019 Presidential Election, describing it as preposterous.
The Party in a Statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said that it finds the allegation baseless and ridiculous, as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) that granted the approval has eleven (11) PDP Governors as its members.
“More than one-third of NGF is made up of members of other Parties other than the APC. We wonder how the Governors who are not members of our Party would support the decision to approve funds that was ostensibly meant to fund another Party.
“In essence, the PDP is by this allegation accusing their Governors of disloyalty or suggesting that they were bewitched into supporting the decision. It is that ridiculous!’
It chided the PDP, saying that it was easy for it to come to such conclusion bearing in mind the frivolities similar amount allocated for such purpose was used for, when they were in power.
He said, “We can understand why it is easy for PDP to arrive at its ludicrous allegation. The PDP presided over a government that made it possible for money meant for weapons to be diverted into paying marabouts and all manner of political jobbers ahead of the 2015 election. Therefore, the PDP thinks the same thing is about to happen.
“They have not realised that it is a new day and President Muhammadu Buhari will not play politics with money meant to protect the lives of innocent Nigerians or allow anyone to engage in such brigandage that Nigerians suffered under the PDP” .
The statement read further: “Another reason that PDP has given for opposing the approval was that the Federal Government has claimed that Boko Haram has been technically defeated. The military authorities have done enough to explain the need for the money, we therefore find no need to repeat the arguments.
“It appears however that the PDP does not understand that winning the peace is as important as winning the war. There is therefore no contradiction in saying that Boko Haram is technically defeated and saying that more weapons and trainings are needed for our military and the military of neighbouring countries whose co-operation is necessary to finally rid our countries of the menace of Boko Haram.
“We conclude by saying that we understand the pressure that the PDP is facing to justify its role as an opposition party, but they need to be reminded that opposition is not the same as opposing everything, including those things that are critical to national interest. We welcome PDP to play its part in ensuring that the money or any public money at all is used for the purpose for which it is intended”.
