Buhari Blasts PDP Over Corruption, Insecurity
The ruling PDP and former head of state General Muhammdu Buhari yesterday engaged in a war of words over corruption and insecurity in the country.
While Buahri slammed the ruling party, saying it had worsened the suffering of Nigerians through acts of corruption and insecurity, the PDP replied that the former military leader had lost touch with contemporary politics. The party asked if Buhari was still in politics.
General Buhari, who spoke at his Kaduna office while receiving members of the Buhari Vanguard on a courtesy visit, said the opposition parties have to come together to rescue Nigeria from the PDP.
He said: 'Since 2005, we realized that the only way we can stabilise the system is for the opposition parties that have representation in the legislature, either at the state or federal level, to come together and face PDP, because the PDP has no intention of social justice, PDP has no intention of accountability. PDP is not interested in security.'
General Buhari, who lamented the infrastructural decay under the ruling PDP, asked Nigerians, 'What was the position of Nigeria before 1999 and what is it now — when PDP assumed command in terms of security, infrastructure, other social services led by education, health care, drinking water. What it was then, what is it now and what have we earned, where is the money?'
'It is on this we realized that it is important that we come together and face the PDP. But all these efforts will be an exercise in futility if we don't ensure that election is free and fair,' he said.
But the ruling PDP chided the former leader for misinforming Nigerians in order to achieve 'his decaying presidential lust'.
The national publicity secretary of the PDP who reacted to Buhari's comment said: 'The first question I ask is this: is Buhari still in politics? I thought the man has retired from politics. Anyway, he is not important in the scheme of today's politics because he has lost his bearing, maybe due to his decaying presidential lust and desire.
'We wish the former military leader desires to toe the path of honour by quietly disengaging from politics for the younger ones who have kept faith with the nation's movement to the next level rather than still allowing himself to be used in a party that is grappling with ethnic and religious togas. Such a man who is oblivious of the performance of the present PDP-led administration in the country does not deserve a lengthy response,' Metuh said.
My life is under threat, says PDP candidate who rejected victory
The councillorship candidate of the PDP in Shawo South-West ward in Offa local government area of Kwara State, Mr Afolabi Jimoh Olawole, who rejected the victory attributed to him following the recent rerun in the local government yesterday disclosed that his life has been under threats.
Mr Afolabi, who was declared the winner of the ward election by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission in the election, surprised the public when he declared that he was not the winner.
The PDP candidate, who was honoured with an award by a group of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari supporters known as 'Buhari Vanguard' at the general's office in Kaduna, said he rejected the declaration to save his conscience.
Mr Afolabi, who spoke to newsmen through his associate, Barr. Abdulkarim Mohammed Alabi, said he had been receiving threat messages from different quotas ever since he rejected the offer.
'Yes, I can confirm to you that between then and now, Mr Afolabi has been receiving several text messages from different quotas, in respect of his courageous denouncement of the electoral robbery that happened in Offa,' he said.