THE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday
dismissed the call by the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) for the institution of a National Truth
Commission, describing it as diversionary tactics to
stop investigation into the arms scandal.
National Secretary Alhaji Mai Mala Buni said in a
statement in Abuja that this was not the time for
setting up a truth commission, but a time for probe,
justice and recovery of looted funds.

In the statement, entitled: “Ignore PDP’s diversionary
tactics”, the party said the citizens should not be
swayed by the latter-day anti-corruption recipes of
the PDP.

It added that “these are mere diversionary tactics to
earn undeserved sympathy after its government had
grounded the nation’s economy to a complete halt”.
The APC said President Muhammadu Buhari
remained focused, unwavering and non-selective in
his anti-corruption crusade and was ready to fast
track the trial of corrupt public officers.
The party stressed that only those who are guilty of
corruption should be jittery and unconvinced that the
“war on corruption is winnable”.

The APC asked the PDP to first remove the moth in
its eyes by prevailing on some of its high-ranking
members, who were under investigation, to
cooperate with relevant agencies, rather than finding
faults with the anti-corruption agenda, which had
received international rating.

The statement reads: “The opposition PDP woke up
from its slumber on Sunday by joining issues with
the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari
on his widely-acclaimed anti-corruption drive,
especially the ongoing probe of $2 billion arms deals
and mind-boggling extra-budgetary expenditures in
the last five years.

“In a press release, the PDP approbated and
reprobated to show that it is uncomfortable with the
war against corruption by the President. While giving
a tacit support for anti-corruption crusade to avoid
incurring the wrath of Nigerians, it engaged in some
ambiguous semantics to call for ‘an honest, holistic,
and total war against corruption’.

“The body language of the PDP was clear on Sunday
that it was uncomfortable with the ongoing probe of
some of its stalwarts who are being investigated for
looting the treasury with impunity. The opposition
party must realise that the day of reckoning has
come; there is no more hiding place for corrupt
elements which it harbours in large number.”
It added: “This is not the time for any National Truth
Commission, it is time for probe, justice and
recovery of slush and looted funds. We do not want
any party to hide under any kangaroo commission to
cover up its dirty leanings. Today, many Nigerians
cannot afford three square meals because of the
mismanagement of the economy by the previous
administration.

“Overwhelmed by the shocking details of corruption,
which characterised the last administration , the
opposition party demanded a probe of how the All
Progressives Party(APC) funded its presidential
campaigns for the 2015 general elections.
“The PDP knew that APC fought and won its
electoral battle basically on the goodwill of the
masses. We did not fund our campaign with slush or
corrupt funds; we challenge the opposition to provide
evidence to the contrary.

“The 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act have
provided guidelines on campaign funds. We are
ready to account for every kobo spent any time we
are requested to do so. We are a party noted for
managing scarce resources; we are not a wasteful
party like PDP.

“APC governors were not compelled to finance our
presidential campaign under any guise. And no one
has been made a minister in this government to
cover up slush funds used for President Buhari’s
campaign. The PDP must be daydreaming. If it had
such allegations, why did it keep quiet during the
screening and confirmation of all ministers by the
Senate in its hallowed chamber.

“The opposition should stop crying over split milk.
The era of politics of desperation is gone for good.
No feeble attempt to discredit Buhari’s
administration will work again. The PDP has tried all
antics and failed. We urge the opposition party to
join the change train in the overall interest of
Nigeria.”

source : http://thenationonlineng.net/pdps-call-for-truth-commission-diversionary-says-apc/