‘Africa’s Joke of the Year’ – PDP Blasts AU for Naming Buhari Anti-corruption Champion

‘Africa’s Joke of the Year’ – PDP Blasts AU for Naming Buhari Anti-corruption Champion

The Peoples Democratic Party has blasted the African Union for the naming of President Muhammed Buhari as its anti-corruption champion, saying the decision was laughable and derisory.

Nigeria’s former ruling party said Buhari’s appointment eminently qualified as Africa’s joke of the year, adding that it was now very clear that the AU leaders were not well briefed on happenings in Nigeria, including the prevalence of graft in and around the Presidency.

The PDP further stated that the AU had been misled by the Federal Government, which, according to it, planned to use the naming as a face-saving stunt for the administration, Punch writes.

This was contained in a statement signed Monday by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who stated that it was embarrassing that the Presidency, in its desperation to launder its image, would resort to taking its deception abroad.

“As we speak, those receiving accolades as champions of anti-corruption have not yet cleared the air on the leaked memo detailing underhand oil contracts to the tune of N9tn ($25bn) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources which are under President Buhari’s direct supervision as minister,” the statement read.

“They are yet to offer any explanation on a series of reported frauds in the oil sector including allegation of the use of 18 unregistered companies to lift and divert N1.1tn worth of crude oil in the last one year to service the APC interests.

“This is a government which has provided cover for its corrupt officials including former state governors, who were indicted of looting funds belonging to their states to sponsor their presidential election in 2015 as well as cronies openly indicted for other various sharp practices, including padding of  the federal budget, secret oil subsidy deals and stealing of funds meant for fight against insurgency and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has yet to respond to the withering attack by the PDP.