The Peoples Democratic Party Coalition (PDPCO), a sociopolitical umbrella of the main opposition party in Nigeria, has accused the All Progressive Congress-led Federal Government of gross corruption and prebendalism in the affairs of the nation to the detriment of Nigerians that are languishing in hunger, poverty and frustration.
The coalition tasked the nation’s anti-graft agency with the proper recovery of the N165 billion allegedly misappropriated at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Recall that the immediate past Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Usman, was alleged to have diverted funds to the tune of N165bn spent on Corporate Social Responsibility Projects (CSR) from the operational surplus of NPA while in office.
Usman was however suspended in May over mismanagement of the funds.
A statement signed by PDPCO National Coordinator, Chief Emeka Kalu, and sent to newsmen on Wednesday, said it has become a routine that functionaries see their involvement in government as means of stealing from public purse to favour their ethnic people or close allies with no iota of resistance from the government in power.
It also noted that the ugly trend had analyzed how the prebendal system of political authority hampers national development in Nigeria since it works for selfish and ethnic purposes.
The coalition regretted that Buhari’s government has kept a deaf ear in speedily opening prosecution charges against those involved in the misappropriation of the NPA funds despite revelation by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation that several figures of unremitted deductions to Federal Inland Revenue Services.
According to the group, “A respected Minister of the Federal Republic, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi since 2015 til 2021 had not given any attention to this wanton happenings in the agencies under his ministerial watch until recently when the heat of the looting impacts raised an eyebrow.
“Is that how it was supposed to be in a government that cares for the citizens’ welfare? Does it show sincerity on the part of the Minister, it queried.
Continuing, the PDPCO added, “these funds suspected to have been looted and diverted if channeled to development projects is bound to provide 250 000 jobs for Nigerian youths, it is capable of improving and stabilizing the electronic facilities of INEC whose powers have been tactically usurped by NCC and National Assembly in the pretext of supervisory and regulatory involvement for election result transmissions. Still the after effects of prebendal sentiment and political nepotism.
“Failure to probe the NPA management board as it demands now shows recklessness,abuse of trust,high handedness and effronteries on the part of the Nigerian government. It makes Nigerians to believe less in the Country which is supposed to be a stronghold of trust for her citizenry”.
The political organization called for thorough investigation on this high profile looting and further demanded accountability to unearth all the perpetrators involved in the shady deals and ensure disciplinary actions are taken as maintained in law.
The PDPCO however reiterated that Nigeria must move forward as she owes her sovereignty to no political party or set of excess driven people, rather her sovereignty and integrity lie in the hands of the people and enacted law of the land.
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