FG bastardizing security agencies – PDP wants institutional reforms

FOLLOWING the claim by the Nigeria Police Force of the recovery of N111million allegedly used by Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, to bribe officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), during the state’s re-run election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that the nation’s security agencies are gradually being bastardized by the federal government.

The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who gave the warning, said in Abujaon Wednesday that the public display of stash of cash by the police was an act of “magic,” saying that action was a desperate effort by the police to satisfy the All Progressive Congress (APC) government.

Speaking after receiving the report of the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee in Abuja on Wednesday, he wondered why the police did not bother to recover monies used to bribe its personnel and members of other security agencies during Rivers and other state elections.

He said: “I also want to use this medium to remind us of what is going on in Rivers state. It reminds me of magicians. They brought out money confiscated from INEC officials.

“We could have as well brought money here and say it was confiscated from INEC officials.

“What of money for the police and other security agencies? Were they not compromised in any particular manner by one or all of the parties? Or that money is not recoverable?”

Noting that those in power were found of bastardizing national institutions “by wanting them to do our bidding,” Makarfi said: “We are trying to bastardize the Judiciary. We are specialized in bastardizing institutions and at the same time want them to serve the country well.”

The party boss therefore called for institutional reforms of government agencies to enable them to serve Nigerians rather than serving government of the day.

He said the main opposition party must stand up for what is good saying: “Public institutions must serve Nigerians not those in office.  If you don’t do away with these old attitudes, corruption will continue and arrogance in government will continue.”

While warning that Nigerians should not be taken for granted, Makarfi apologized to Nigerians for the party’s mistakes in the past, expressing confidence that the PDP would return to power like a “tsunami” in 2019.

He also hinted that many important political leaders who are not members of the party are in talks with the party to join.

He said he would not however reveal those the party is discussing with but would be unveiled at the appropriate time.

Makarfi spoke of attempt to muzzle the opposition party by forces which he said wanted to neutralize the PDP through the courts, adding the forces have failed as the former ruling party has refused to be put down.

On members of the party who have joined the APC, the party boss wondered what was the point as he noted that APC has not been able to fulfill the promises it made.

Makarfi said while the report submitted by the Gana Committee was yet to be considered by party organs, from what he had seen, the report is an “excellent report.”

Before submitting the report, Gana revealed that the committee made many recommendations including direct primary election for choosing the party’s candidates as against delegate system which he said had been bastardized and “it’s cash and carry. It doesn’t encourage democracy.”

He suggested the convocation of a national conference of democrats “in view of the rising violation of human rights to form a network against such violations.”

The National Caretaker Committee of the party set up the Strategy Review and Inter- party Affairs Committee on 10th November, 2016, to fashion out ways to reposition the party.

It was given 90-days to complete its assignment.