PDP challenges Tinubu to explain role in presidency ‘cabal’

THE Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PPCO) on Wednesday challenged the Co-Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to explain his role in the “cabal” perceived to be in operation in the President Muhammadu Buhari Presidency.

The main opposition party, which noted that the cabal has been used by the administration to “cripple” the nation’s economy, demanded that Tinubu should also respond to allegations that he succumbed to pressure to lead “the Buhari ill-fated re-election bid following purported threats by agents of the Buhari Presidency to expose and prosecute him for corruption allegations and not because he believes in the propriety of President Buhari’s re-election.”

A statement issued by in Abuja by Kola Ologbondiyan, Director, Media & Publicity PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation said: “It is very unfortunate that at the time Nigerians, across the board, are boldly jettisoning their personal interests and joining in the quest to rescue our nation from President Buhari’s incompetent, corrupt, divisive and anti-people regime, a leader of Asiwaju’s status is chasing personal interests and self-preservation.

“Nigerians can recall how Asiwaju in January 2018, at the 15th Annual Daily Trust Dialogue rejected the Buhari administration’s nepotism, incompetence, corrupt oil subsidy regime; blamed it for the high-level of poverty in our country and urged Nigerians to be guided by their conscience in electing leaders in the 2019 general elections.

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“Berating the Buhari administration, Asiwaju held that ‘too much political and economic power resides in the hands of too few. This result in a society described by too much unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, too little food, yet too much poverty.’

“Asiwaju had also rightly posited that, under President Buhari, “rather than becoming a joyous nation, Nigeria has become a cruel playground where the fears and concerns of the average person get exploited but their interests never get promoted.”

“He then concluded by urging Nigerians to follow their conscience in the 2019 elections by resisting ‘unthinking passions and old prejudices.’ which is the hallmark of President Buhari’s re-election campaign.

“The question Nigerians are asking now is, what has suddenly changed in President Buhari’s leadership style to warrant Asiwaju’s full circle turn.

“Nigerians have seen that Asiwaju’s involvement in Buhari 2019 campaign is not motivated by any national or even regional interests but by personal reasons far from the general good.

“While we understand the frustration being faced by Asiwaju in this unfortunate task of marketing a rejected product, we caution him to be careful not to allow the ill-fated Buhari Presidency to destroy whatever is left of the respect he has earned among Nigerians, who have already made up their minds to rally behind the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of Nigeria.

“Asiwaju, by now, would have noted how Nigerians berate him whenever he lends himself as a tool in the hands of the Buhari Presidency to cast aspersions on Atiku Abubakar.”

The party therefore counseled Tinubu to be mindful of his status in “the pantheon of leaders and note that he is not with Nigerians in his new enterprise, for which he now needs to clear his name over alleged involvement in the anti-people cabal at the Buhari Presidency.”

The PDPCO also cautioned him on “his penchant for making unsubstantiated allegations against our candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

The PPCO insisted that the national leader of the APC has no moral rectitude upon which he can stand to make allegations against Atiku.

“He should control his emotions and ensure that he desists from making frivolous allegations against Atiku Abubakar, whom Nigerians have resolved to elect as President, come 2019,” the party declared.