N22trn Debt: Buhari, APC have wrecked Nigeria, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has attributed the accumulated N22 trillion national debt burden on what it called President Muhammadu Buhari’s poor understanding of current global economic dynamics and his cover of humongous corruption in his Presidency which it said have completely wrecked the nation.

The party argued that had President Buhari heed wise counsel from the PDP to allow competent hands to manage the nation’s economy and had he not continued to provide official cover for corruption in his Presidency, the nation would not have been in this current embarrassing economic situation.

The party in a statement made on Wednesday by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said since President Buhari assumed office and took control of the once robust economy, his administration has not been able to articulate any germane policy to sustain, let alone, grow the economy, but had instead, resorted to borrowing, while allowing his cronies and APC leaders to fritter away trillions of naira earned by the nation in the last three years.

“Why would the Buhari administration not accumulate debts when it has continued to cover up corrupt practices under its watch, including the alleged stealing of N9 trillion, through underhand oil contracts in the NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum Resources as well as the alleged illegal lifting of crude oil worth N1.1 trillion by 18 unregistered companies to service APC interests, among others.

“Moreover, the Buhari Presidency has refused to explain the whereabouts of trillions of naira unremitted oil revenue, resulting in the deadlock at the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

“If these monies were properly accounted for and utilized, Nigeria will not be in this dire economic situation which has brought hunger and starvation on Nigerians and rendered millions of compatriots jobless, while President Buhari and his officials live in affluence”, he said.

Also, in a separate statement by Ologbondiyan, the party demanded the immediate release of Premium Times Newspapers reporter, Mr. Samuel Ogundipe, who was arrested and detained by the police over a report.

The party condemned the alleged denial of personal freedom and manhandling of the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, and its education correspondent, Azeezat Adedigba by the police.

It said the continued detention of Mr. Ogundipe is against his fundamental right to freedom as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).

The PDP insisted that the incessant clampdown on journalists and media houses by the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is completely unacceptable in a democracy and only reminiscent of military Decree 4 of 1984 that empowers then dictatorial regime to arrest and detain journalists over reports considered to be against its interest.