The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) on Monday accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of desperation in what it called “the assault against the judiciary with the attempt to forcefully remove the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.
The party in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, said:
“It is despicable that rather than retracing their steps from the ignoble
act against the CJN, after the spontaneous public outrage that trailed
the shameful act, the APC and the Buhari Presidency are attempting to
blackmail Nigerians, who condemned the assault on the judiciary, as
being sympathetic to corruption.
“The Buhari Presidency and the APC, in this venture, have exposed their
desperation to subdue and annex the judiciary, particularly, following
increasing agitation by Nigerians for the prosecution of President
Buhari’s cronies and APC leaders over exposed corruption.
“The Buhari Presidency and APC in turning around to fight Nigerians have
further exposed their desperation to replace Justice Onnoghen with a
pliable CJN, who will execute their plots to use the courts to detain
opposition leaders as well as vocal members of the Civil Society during
the elections.
“It is now crystal clear to all Nigerians that apart from failing
woefully in all its promises, the APC and its presidential candidate,
President Buhari, are beginning to manifest their autocratic attributes.
“Furthermore, the Buhari Presidency is not only corrupt but has become an
asylum for corrupt people. The PPCO therefore challenges the APC and the
Buhari Presidency to name one APC member that has been investigated,
prosecuted or arraigned before any court of competent jurisdiction in
the last three and half years in spite of their humongous corruption.
“If anything, President Muhammadu Buhari has encouraged corruption in our nation more than any President that had the privilege of governing
our country, Nigeria.
“It is important to restate that the Buhari Presidency is now a refugee
camp for known and well advertised faces of corruption. From the
factional National Chairman of the APC, the co-chairman of the Buhari
campaign Organization, the Director General of the Buhari Campaign, the
zonal directors and the recent entrants from Bauchi and Gombe states,
all leaders of the APC and Buhari campaign structure are all candidates
of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“We therefore charge Nigerians not to be deterred by the attacks by the
Buhari Presidency, which has since become desperate and anti-people
following its rejection by Nigerians because of its corruption,
incompetence and insensitivity to the plights of our citizens.”