Okupe: ACN must ask Lagos Speaker, Reps Minority Leader to resign, PDP insists
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West has insisted that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)must first ask the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila to resign before the party can be taken serious on national issues, especially those bordering on corruption.
The PDP said it was ridiculous that the ACN could claim that Ikufoji, who has been charged to court because investigation on his case had been concluded and a prima facie case established against him cannot be asked to resign while at the same clamouring for the sack of Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan over yet-to-be substantiated report of his investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged contract scam.
PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade said in a statement issued in Ibadan today, that if anyone must be sacked or asked to resign from office, they are the Lagos Speaker, who is facing trial for alleged theft of over N7 billion public fund and the ACN Leader in the House of Representatives who was convicted by the Sureme Court of Georgia, United States of America for defrauding his client of $25,000?
The PDP said; "While we will not defend anyone for committing crime, but we must state that we will no longer sit back and allow these gang of hypocrites in the ACN to harass, blackmail or intimidate our members.
"With the seal and vigour they have been approaching this issue of Dr Okupe, it is obvious that there are more to it than meet the eyes and what we can conclude is that some people are afraid of the man Dr Doyin Okupe and are out to distract him.
"If not, what has the former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume, who is now the ACN Leader in the senate done since 2007 that he left office on the alleged contract scam involving Dr. Okupe?
"A man of Dr Okupe's standing took your money in 2006, eloped with it and you are now talking about it in 2012, six years after, that to us put a lot of question marks on the claim.
"Again, you claimed the man was being investigated by the EFCC and his arrest and interrogation was not reported in any newspaper prior to his appointment as SSA Public Affairs to the President? All these do not simply add up and the certified fraudsters, ex-convists, identity and documents forgers in the ACN should know that Nigerians can no longer be fooled by their antics.
"On this issue of Dr. Okupe that it has been flogging and over flogging, the ACN party should simply padlock its stinking mouth. Most importantly that this same ACN is playing the ostrich on the criminal trial of Ikuforiji, conviction of Gbajabiamila for swindling his client of $25, 000 and other illegalities being committed by its governors in the South-West."