Adesina, an embarrassment to the Presidency – PDP

The People’s Democratic Party (Party) has described as ‘vacuous’ a statement credited to the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, in his response to an earlier statement made by the PDP that the Buhari-led administration is dictatorial and hypocritical in its fight against corruption.

The PDP, in statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said Adesina left the critical issues of governance raised by Sunday’s press conference addressed Metuh, and “embarked on insults, shadow-chasing and fouling of the media space with uncouth language.”

“Adesina’s several previous unwarranted personal attacks and insults deliberately targeted at the person of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, in his desperate attempt to impress his paymaster and retain his job.

“Our answer remains that inasmuch as we know that this Presidency aide lacks depth on his current assignment and has no credible defence, being overwhelmed in his job of trying to launder the image of this government, the characteristic resort always, to lies, malice and vituperations should not be an option.

“While we appreciate the fact that Mr. Adesina is not conversant and knowledgeable in politics and intricate issues of governance, he should have applied the common sense of covering his hollowness in this regard and save the Presidency the embarrassment of an arrogant attempt to wave off very serious questions hanging in the face of the present administration.”

The party further insisted that there was no justification for the ‘selective’ investigations of corrupt cases, noting that damaging petitions written against APC governors have not been investigated by agencies concerned. The party also alleged that the much vaunted anti-corruption war of the present administration is a ruse and a veiled attempt to witch-hunt perceived enemies of the government.

The PDP also said that by giving governorship tickets for upcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states to Abubakar Audu and Timipre Sylva respectively, both who have allegations of corrupt practices levelled against them, shows that the APC government is hypocritical about its war on corruption.

“May we remind the Presidency that Nigerians are still waiting for its response to salient national issues raised by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, bordering on relentless abuse of power, selective application of war against corruption, witch-hunt of opposition elements and perceived political opponents, threats to democratic institutions and government’s clear lack of direction on economic issues.

“How can Mr. Adesina explain the fact that while former PDP governors and ministers are being arrested, their APC counterparts, who have more damaging petitions with anti-graft agencies are being rewarded with ministerial positions, with yet others granted APC tickets for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections respectively?
Perhaps Adesina is confirming that the nation now has two separate laws for prosecuting the war against corruption; one, to nail PDP members and perceived opponents of government, and the other to protect APC members and friends of the present administration.

“We challenge Adesina, in the euphoria of trying to satisfy his paymaster, to defend him by showing Nigerians any APC member that has so far been invited or arrested by any anti-graft agency, other than PDP members and perceived political opponents such as Senate President Bukola Saraki.