By Dirisu Yakubu
PDP warns APC against anti-National Assembly protests
ABUJA-The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has uncovered a subtle move by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a cabal to siphon the repatriated $322 million (about N115 billion), under the guise of sharing same among vulnerable Nigerians in 19 states of the federation.

Uche Secondus

The party said its findings show that of the estimated 300,000 households listed as beneficiaries, more than 90 percent are phony family names supplied by fraudulent government officials, as conduit to channel the repatriated money to APC leaders and the cabal.

In a statement issued by the party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said its “Investigation revealed that the cabal is responsible for the stampede to spend the money without recourse to the constitutionally required approval and appropriation of the National Assembly.”

It also took swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly approving the distribution of the money “without the required legislative due diligence process, thereby opening the vaults for looters.”

The statement further stressed that “while the PDP has nothing against any genuine plan to benefit Nigerians in anyway, we believe that President Buhari is aware of the requirements of the constitution regarding the disbursement of funds belonging to the federation and we urge Nigerians to hold him responsible for this wicked plot by APC interests to use innocent citizens as cover to loot the repatriated fund.

“The PDP therefore calls on the National Assembly to protect the interest of Nigerians by immediately employing its legislative instruments to stop the re-looting of the repatriated money.”

Also the part also cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the dangers of sponsoring protests targeted against the members of the National Assembly.

The party said such moves could destroy the bedrock of the nation’s democracy, pitching Nigerians against one another and driving the country into a state of lawlessness.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, alleged that some unnamed Ministers and government appointees were behind Tuesday’s protest to the National Assembly, calling for the resignation of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

“Nigerians were shocked over revelations in which cabinet ministers and appointees of the President were alleged to have paid the protesters with a view to using them to embarrass the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“Nigerians will recall how, in April this year, hoodlums gained access into the National Assembly, invaded the hallowed chambers of the Senate and made away with the mace, while threatening our lawmakers and disrupting proceedings in the parliament.

“Members of the National Assembly are direct representatives of the people and the failure of the Federal Government to recall Senator Dino Melaye, despite the huge resources invested, speaks volume of the real position of Nigerians on the ongoing stand-off between the executive and the legislature.

“The PDP therefore cautions the APC and its interests in the federal executive to end their plots against the National Assembly and direct such energies to providing good governance, which has eluded the nation in the last three years,” the statement read.