By Paul Odenyi

Abuja – Leading lights of the opposition on the banner of the Congress of Progressive Change, CPC, yesterday, rounded up on the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a party bent on destroying the country.

Erstwhile Head of State and presidential candidate of the party, General Mohammadu Buhari, his running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare and erstwhile Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai spoke at the launch of the CPC’s renewal committee.

Buhari, while inaugurating the 100-member committee headed by el-Rufai, noted that the problem of the country went beyond the inefficiency of the government. For him, the trend whereby votes do not translate to political power is dangerous to the country.

Buhari said the more worrisome part of the country’s life in democracy was the descent into arbitrariness, lack of trust in government institutions and the mercantile nature of nomination to political positions.

For el-Rufai, one of the major evils of the PDP government, was the profligacy among public officials.

El-Rufai, who is the chairman of the renewal committee, argued that the fortunes of the nation would continue to dwindle as long as PDP is allowed to call the shot at the centre. Short of calling the names of those in the PDP and government who are plundering the country’s resources, he said the incumbent had demonstrated high level of inefficiency and lack of vision.

Asked what was the difference between the PDP of few years ago which he was a prominent member and now, El-Rufai argued that things had not gone out of hand when he was in the party.

He said he had to decamp to CPC because of the integrity of the leader of the party, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that Buhari was not out to enrich himself but to provide a good platform for social justice and good governance.

On government’s plan to withdraw fuel subsidy, El-Rufai said the Federal Government was not telling the masses the truth. He challenged government to explain how N1.3trn was expended on subsidy in 10 months rather than blackmailing the country that the economy will collapse in two years if the subsidy is not removed.

In his words: “Nigerians look up to our party as that of social justice, public service and integrity in governance. Only our Party has the leadership and membership committed to unlocking Nigeria’s potentials and providing equal opportunity for all. Therefore, we must rise up, reorganize to fix the dysfunctional political economy of Nigeria. If we are to have any chance of fixing Nigeria, we must first of all fix our party internally.

“At this critical time in the life of our country and our party, running away from challenging tasks would amount to a disservice to our aspirations to provide equal opportunities, security and employment to Nigerians.

“Mr. Chairman and members of the National Executive Committee of our great party, it is with a deep sense of responsibility that we accept to deliver on the mandate of the CPC Renewal Committee. And I want to say to you Mr. Chairman and to all Nigerians, particularly the over 12 million people that voted for the Buhari-Bakare ticket in the April elections that we have never felt more challenged in lives to stand up for a cause.

“On behalf of the members of the Committee, I therefore pledge to the Almighty Allah, to our party leaders, members and supporters, and indeed all Nigerians, that the task at hand shall be discharged to the best of our collective capacity and ability.