Monday, August 10, 2015

Buhari Blasts Akpabio , Others , Says Corrupt APC , PDP Members Must Face Trial

Buhari Blasts Akpabio , Others ,
Says Corrupt APC , PDP
Members Must Face Trial
NewsRescue
Bassey Udo
President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to
claims by the 49-member Senate Caucus of the
Peoples Democratic Party which on Thursday
kicked against the current administration’s war
against corruption, claiming it was selective and
lacked transparency and fairness.
In a statement Sunday night, Mr. Buhari
described the claims by the Godwill Akpabio-led
caucus as “false, baseless and totally
unjustifiable”.
Mr. Akpabio and his colleagues had at a press
conference in Abuja Thursday alleged that the
administration’s anti-graft war was mainly
targeted at opposition politicians.
“The [PDP] caucus is not happy with the current
trend that seems to suggest that the war against
corruption is selective and targeted at PDP
stalwarts and states,” the group said at the
briefing.
“The current war lacks transparency, fairness to
all and appears to be aimed at political
adversaries.”
But in a statement via his Senior Special
Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
on Sunday, Mr. Buhari said it was regrettable that
“wild allegation of bias and partisanship” could
come from respected and distinguished members
of the Nigerian Senate.
Mr. Buhari said, “We have noted with regret, the
allegation by members of the PDP Senate Caucus
that the present administration is being selective
and partisan in its prosecution of the war against
corruption.
“We state without equivocation that the allegation
is false, baseless and totally unjustifiable.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, we
affirm that having made his zero tolerance for
corruption clear to all and sundry, President
Muhammadu Buhari does not micro-manage or
interfere in the daily work of Nigeria’s anti-
corruption agencies.
“The wild allegation of bias and partisanship in
the fight against corruption shouldn’t have come
therefore from respected and distinguished
members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
“That claim belongs to the past and not the
present. Public officials and other leaders accused
of corruption by relevant agencies should plead
their innocence, not malice.
“President Buhari’s unwavering stance is that
whosoever is charged with corruption should face
the law irrespective of whether they are members
of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), or any other political
party.
“As far as the President is concerned, corruption
has no political party, no religion and no ethnic
group.
“It is important to remind the PDP Senate Caucus
and all Nigerians that right from 2003 when he
started campaigning for the Presidency of Nigeria,
President Buhari consistently promised to do his
best to curb corruption in the country.
“The President remains wholly committed to
fulfilling that promise and will not be deterred
from the relentless prosecution of the war against
corruption because he remains convinced that, as
he has said, “unless Nigeria kills corruption,
corruption will kill Nigeria”.
The President also dismissed the claim by the
caucus that he and his party were meddling in
the ongoing cases at election tribunals and using
the State Security Service to harass electoral
officials believed to have sympathy for the PDP.
“The claim by the PDP Senate caucus that
President Buhari and his administration are
meddling in election petition cases through the
Department of State Services (DSS) is also
untrue,” Mr. Buhari said.
“The duties of the DSS and other security
agencies are clearly spelt out in the laws
establishing them. The Federal Government led by
President Buhari does not give them instructions
regarding their daily operations.
“Election Tribunals and the Independent National
Electoral Commission in Rivers, Abia and Akwa-
Ibom States do not operate under the guidance
of the President.
“Any individual or group of individuals who think
that their legitimate political and civil rights are
infringed upon by the DSS or any institution is
advised to seek protection and redress under our
constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria instead of resorting to baseless
allegations against the Buhari Administration.
“On President Buhari’s watch, the rule of law, not
impunity, shall govern every aspect of life in
Nigeria and there will be no room for sentiments,
bias and corruption in the application of the laws
of the land.
“President Buhari also wishes to re-assure all
Nigerians that his administration will not
discriminate against individuals or groups in the
performance of its duties and that favours or
patronage will not be dispensed on the basis of
votes.
“The President remains committed to his Oath of
Office and the letters and spirit of the
constitution.
“He calls on all Nigerians to join hands with him
in the fight against insecurity, corruption and
impunity in Nigeria so that we can have a country
that will prosper for the benefit of all of its
citizens and future generations of Nigerians.

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