Abacha loot: Defend yourself of US allegation, PDP tells Buhari

TRACKING______The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to defend himself of the allegation by the United States (US) Department of State that he plans to divert $100 million (about N36.3 billion) out of the looted funds to the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu…

This is even as the party has called on the National Assembly to order a forensic investigation into the handling of repatriated funds by the presidency.

PDP said in a statement yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan that the recent revelation of corruption in President Buhari’s administration has further exposed the fact that the administration has been living a lie.

It accused the presidency of blocking attempts to recover part of the looted funds traced to Governor Bagudu, who incidentally, is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum.

PDP alleged that the governor had been indicted by the US government for helping in transferring billions of dollars out of the country during the military era.

“Moreover, further revelations in the report that instead of recovering the stolen money, the Federal Government is even in the process of funnelling $100 million (N36.3 billion) out of the looted funds to Governor Bagudu, highlights the humongous sleaze, duplicity and treachery that pervade the Buhari administration.

“From the report, it is clear that the Buhari presidency has further smeared itself, and no longer commands the trust and confidence of stakeholders within and outside the country in its fight against corruption,” the party said.

It added that the failure of President Buhari to respond to the issues raised by the US Department of State only validates the widely held position within and outside the country that the administration is not only corrupt but also serves as a haven for corrupt individuals.

“There are already apprehension in the public space of huge complicity and patronizing of corruption under President Buhari’s watch, which is directly responsible for our worsening corruption rating, a comatose economy, hardship and untold suffering which have turned our nation into world’s poverty capital,” PDP state.