PDP Lucky to Escape Probes Under APC Administrations — Osita Okechukwu

A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its recent remarks about the APC.

He described the PDP as fortunate for not being investigated over its 16 years in power.

Okechukwu made this statement while reacting to the PDP’s claim that the APC’s days were numbered following the outcome of Ghana’s presidential election, where the opposition party emerged victorious.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to the media, Okechukwu responded to PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba, who had said:
“The verdict of the people of Ghana in this presidential election is a signal to the APC that its days are numbered, as the power of the people in Nigeria, just like in Ghana, will surely prevail, end the APC’s oppressive rule, and return Nigeria to the path of good governance, security, political stability, and economic prosperity on the platform of the PDP in 2027.”

Okechukwu dismissed Ologunagba’s remarks, arguing that the PDP should instead be grateful to Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their “statesmanship” in not probing what he termed as the “planlessness and squandermania” of the PDP’s 16 years in power.

“The PDP should thank Almighty God that Buhari and Tinubu, out of sheer statesmanship, refused to probe the culture of impunity and trust deficit they planted during their 16 locust years.

These include corruption in the privatisation of our electricity value chain, blatant rigging of the 2007 elections acknowledged by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and the conscienceless sale of legislative and ministerial quarters, which continues to bleed the treasury,” Okechukwu said.

He further blamed the PDP for neglecting the $23 billion Greenfield Refinery project, which he argued could have saved Nigeria over $70 billion spent on fuel imports.

On why the APC-led government had been unable to fix these challenges, Okechukwu attributed it to systemic issues, recalling efforts by the Buhari administration to revive the Greenfield Refinery project, which he said were thwarted by a lack of cooperation from foreign partners.

Okechukwu also criticized the PDP for breaching the zoning convention in its presidential candidate selection, claiming it showed a disregard for its constitution and Nigeria’s rotational presidency principle.

He concluded, “The PDP should not insult Nigerians’ sensibility by assuming we are quick to forget how they put us in harm’s way.

Rather, they should thank Almighty God that Buhari and Tinubu did not probe their actions, which is why Nigerians struggle to distinguish between the two political parties today.”