…Challenges President On Alleged N2.6 trillion Hidden Petrol Tax.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu
Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to fleece
Nigerians through the extortion of N1.2 billion from poor beneficiaries
of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, to
fund Mr. President’s ill-fated 2019 re-election bid.
This is just as the party has challenged the Buhari President to speak
out on the alleged fleecing of Nigerians to the tune of N2.6 trillion
through hidden illegal N48 tax per liter of petrol, which motorists in
the country have been bearing since the fuel price increased from PDP
subsidized cost of N87 to presumably unsubsidized cost of N145.
“The PDP completely condemns such acts of corruption, particularly the
attempt by the Buhari Presidency to draw financial kickback from poor
beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrower’s Programme, in violation of our
financial regulations,” according to Kola Ologbondiyan in a statement on Thursday.
The PDP added: “Information at our disposal also reveals that the Anchor Borrower’s scanadal is yet another scheme by the Buhari Presidency to siphon public funds and surreptitiously route same to Mr. President’s campaign.
“To achieve this ignoble scheme, the Buhari Presidency and the APC
shamefully constituted a phony Anchor Borrowers Farmers’ Association,
which they claimed has 12 million members, and through which they plan
to siphon and launder money from public coffers to fund President
Buhari’s campaign.
“Our check reveals that no such association exists and that the
membership figure is just a ruse, another fabrication and attempt at
procurement of fake endorsement by the Buhari Presidency, to create an
impression that Nigerians are supporting President Buhari and the APC.
“Further investigation reveals how the Buhari Presidency has been
secretly diverting huge part of various social intervention funds to the
Buhari campaign while handing paltry sums to Nigerians. This is in
addition how agents of the Presidency carrying out APC’s vote buying
project, particularly the Trader-moni scheme, have been illegally
collecting 10 percent kickback from beneficiaries.
“Now that Nigerians have refused to contribute to Mr. President’s
re-election bid, due to his failure in office, the Buhari Presidency and
the APC are seeking ways to legitimize their stealing of public funds to
finance their campaign and service the wasteful lifestyles of their
leaders.
“The PDP challenges President Buhari to speak out and not continue to
feign ignorance of these allegations bothering directly on corruption in
his Presidency. He should know that keeping quiet will not help him.
Nigerians have seen through the lies, deception and contrivances of his
administration and are not ready to allow such to continue in 2019.”
