…PDP worries over ruling government’s inability to tolerate criticism
OCTOBER 23, 2017
NigeriaNews.Ca
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Buhari-led administration to immediately relieve Abdulrahman Dambazzau and Abubakar Malami, Ministers of Interior and Justice respectively of their duties over their alleged role in the surprised reinstatement of the former Chairman, Presidential Taskforce on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
It also called for the arrest of Maina whose reported reinstatement elicited criticisms across the land. Abdulrasheed Maina In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party expressed shock at the manner of Maina’s reinstatement saying the ex-Pension boss ought to have been arrested instead.
“We demand the immediate sack of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami who have been fingered in the illegal act of restoring Maina to office against good conscience.
“All people of good conscience will not forget in a hurry that Maina, who was given an assignment by the last administration of the PDP to superintend the now defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, dipped his hands into the jar and helped himself to N100 billion of what he was supposed to safeguard.
“With good conscience at fighting corruption, the PDP government then mandated the anti-corruption agencies to perform their constitutional duty. Maina fled, only to resurface in the country four months ago under the Buhari administration.
“As a party of good conscience, we wish to condemn in strongest terms the penchant of the administration of President Buhari to giving safe haven to known criminals while hoodwinking Nigerians that it’s fighting corruption.
“While we are growing fatigued shouting ourselves hoarse in protest against nepotism, a clear form of corruption under this administration which has been elevated to state craft, we are appalled that the reinforcement of financial corruption by this government might soon lead to the demise of this nation if the celestial does not intervene,” the statement read in part.
The party also expressed worry over government’s inability to tolerate criticism, saying shielding criminals has become part of the ruling party’s work ethic.
“We are worried that the APC administration seem to have grown thick skins to constructive criticism, otherwise, no sane government, in spite of the open condemnation the party has received from Nigerians over its shielding of criminals, will repeat another one as done in the case of Maina.
“The PDP wish Nigerians can demand from the APC government, the civil service rule it relied upon in promoting a wanted criminal who had abandoned his duty post as an Assistant Director, to the position of a Director with all benefits attached.
“We wish the APC government will tell Nigerians where and when, and under which court jurisdiction, Maina was cleared of his criminal allegations of stealing, warranting his restoration to duty and getting rewarded with double promotion,” the statement continued.