PDP looted N2.9trn in 10yrs, Buhari’s aide alleges

Henry Omunu, Abuja

An aide to President Muhhamadu Buhari has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of looting not less than N2.9 trillion from 2005 – 2015. He made the allegation at a mobilization symposium organised by the Buhari Diaspora Support Organization (BDSO) in Abuja. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who spoke about the Buhari administration’s war against corruption in a keynote address, declared that over $83 billion amounting to N2.9 trillion was the stolen money, taken out of Nigeria from 2005-2015. He expressed amazement at the magnitude of infrastructural development such quantum of stolen amount would have delivered to the country if the funds hadn’t been stolen. Garba who was represented at the event by Niyi Akinseju, affirmed that the fight against corruption by the APC administration against those he called “beneficiaries of the old order” has earned the country international acclaim, adding that it was the reason that Nigerians should re-elect President Buhari He said those demonizing the fight against corruption were opposition politicians who are against change, noting that they have often misconstrued and misinterpreted the toga of Nigeria being home to grand corruption by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Transparency International. He justified the need to bring back President Buhari, since under him the country is been celebrated for relentlessly fighting corruption “Under four years, Nigeria is been celebrated for relentlessly fighting grand corruption,” he said, adding that it has become expedient because the Buhari administration wants to deliver on social services for the larger benefit of Nigerians and not a few kleptomaniacs. Earlier, the Global Chairman of the support group, Charles Efe Sylvester, noted that as Nigerians in the Diaspora who have followed the Buhari’s antecedents since 2014 and having mobilized support for him in 2015, have again resolved to back his second term ambition. Sylvester listed integrity, selflessness and patriotism as reasons the group is championing the Buhari cause. “Since 2014, we have been supporting him because he promotes policies aimed at the betterment of the poor masses and not the few rich ones. He is Mr. Integrity, champion of the masses and the general of the people,” the global chairman added. He noted that the President deserves a second term since he had delivered on security and the fight against corruption. “Before now, Boko haram took over 17 local government areas in the country but that is not the case now; by the concerted efforts of Mr. President, Nigeria has regained its territories. “Ask Americans who have been fighting ISIS and the Taliban for several years? The fight is not easy, so also is revamping the economy which has been battered by the opposition for 16 years,” Sylvester stated. He noted that the administration was doing its best in rebuilding the economy, urging Nigerians to read the President’s lips as one who means well for the entire country, rather than misconstruing his actions as being nepotistic and sectional.