PDP, APC in war of words over alleged plot to re-loot repatriated Abacha's $311m

APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole (left), PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan (right) 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to cover its complicity in the looting of repatriated funds as well as defending the exposed current plot by its leaders and the cabal in the Presidency to plunder the recently repatriated $311 million.

PDP had accused the Presidency of plotting to re-loot the $311 million repatriated to Nigeria from the loot of former Head of State, Sani Abacha.


But responding to the allegation, APC said the former ruling party was angry that the money was not repatriated while it was in power.

However, PDP in a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, charged the ruling party to stop the denial and respond to allegations by President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife, Aisha that the N500m palliative fund was a huge scam.

The statement reads, "it is not surprising that the APC is again serving as the mouthpiece of corruption and sleaze, given that it holds the medal in deceit, propaganda, concealment of fraud and as a sanctuary of corrupt individuals, international scammers, certificate forgers and looters of repatriated funds.




"Instead of seeking to divert attention, the APC should face the issue and respond to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who alerted the nation that the APC administration’s N500 billion Social Investment Programme is a huge scam and that bulk of the money did not get to the designated poor; a fraud for which the APC remains indicted.

"Our party further challenges the APC to respond to the report of the US Department of State, which exposed the plot by the APC administration to divert $100 million of the repatriated fund to the Chairman of APC Governor’s Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.



"No! The APC would not attempt to make the littlest of response because its hands are heavily soiled with looted funds.

"Moreover, it is on record that the APC has not been able to point to any project executed by its administration despite the stream of repatriated money channeled to it.

"It is not for nothing that the APC has been riotous since our party busted its fresh plot to loot the repatriated $311 million, and had resorted to vituperations, insults, threats and unfounded accusations against well-meaning Nigerians. It is because our insistence on transparency and accountability in the handling of the funds has ended their re-looting ploys.


"Nigerians have continued to witness how the APC and officials in the Buhari Presidency have been stuttering and stammering on national television since the plot to steal the money was exposed.

"We are already aware of their desperate plans to unleash heavily paid hack writers and spin doctors to assist in diverting public attention and blackmailing patriotic individuals and groups demanding for accountability in the handling of the fund.

"It is even more distressing that officials of the APC administration are already compromising the sovereignty of our nation by attempting to transfer the powers of appropriation of our national resources from our National Assembly to foreign powers, just to conceal the plot to siphon the money.



"Such unpatriotic action is not only reprehensible but also completely repugnant.

"The power to appropriate our national resources is only vested on our National Assembly and cannot be surrendered to any foreign power under any guise.

"It is on record that such national betrayal never happened under PDP administrations where all funds, including repatriated funds were transparently handled in compliance with our extant financial rules.


"Our party therefore demands that the $311 million be immediately directed to the Federation Account for proper appropriation in line with our laws.

"The PDP strongly charges the National Assembly to get ready to use its legislative instruments against the APC-led government, should the repatriated fund be dissipated in any manner other than as prescribed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).