The Peoples Democratic Party has described the fabrications by the All Progressives Congress against prominent opposition members over an alleged link with suspected fraudster, Raymond Abbas, a.k.a Hushpuppi, as reckless, irresponsible.
According to the party, the allegation further exposes the victimisation agenda of the APC.
The party in a release issued and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the fabrications had also further exposed how the APC administration had been using agencies under its control to frame innocent opposition members, dissenting voices, rival political parties and perceived opponents of the government on trumped-up charges under the guise of fighting corruption.
The PDP added that the desperate bid to frame innocent Nigerians who were not in any way involved with Hushpuppi, even after a very broad investigation by prominent investigators, including the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), left no one in doubt that the APC government had been victimising opposition members with fabricated charges.
The party also revealed that it had however been made aware that the statement by the APC was part of a heinous design by certain power mongers close to the APC administration to commence a fresh clampdown on perceived political rivals within and outside the opposition circles, ahead of the 2023 general election.
The statement said, “Nigerians should not be surprised when the APC will begin to list the names of innocent political leaders, including those who are now being persecuted in their party, on trumped-up charges, for political interests.
“While our party has no link whatsoever with Hushpuppi, as the APC also acknowledged, Nigerians are aware that his pictures with some prominent Nigerians, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which the APC is frenzied about, do not suggest any affinity beyond the usual jostling by people, world over, to be photographed with leaders.”
The party added, “Of course, such happens to all prominent individuals, especially leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari. It is therefore unfortunate that a ruling party, which is now led by a sitting President, is spending its energy to frame innocent Nigerians instead of confronting the myriads of economic and security problems it caused the nation, in addition to finding solution to the serious demands of COVID-19 pandemic.
“If the APC is indeed fighting corruption, it should have called for the investigation of its leaders who, as state governors, ministers and even APC National Chairman have been indicted for stealing and treasury looting.
“The APC should be calling for the investigation of one of their state governors, who was seen on a viral video, stuffing his robe with gratification, in foreign currency, as well as their candidate in a forthcoming election, who has been declared by a former APC National Chairman as a treasury looter, who is only good for “night meetings” and not fit to be state governor.”
The opposition party therefore cautioned APC to steer clear of its members and other hard working Nigerians, in various fields of endeavour, who were perceived to be opponents of the APC.
“Moreover, our party will not be distracted by the APC, which has gone into panic mode over its imminent electoral loss in Edo as well as Ondo state,” it said.
