PDP Lambasts President’s Spokesman

femi adesina buhari
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lashed out at the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, over his response to the party’s press conference on Sunday.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh had accused the All Progressives Congress-led government of Buhari of being selective in investigating alleged corrupt public officials.

Metuh said the PDP had noticed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has only beamed its searchlight on his party’s members while members of the ruling party with similar allegations have moved freely and even given plum government jobs.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Special Assistant to Metuh, Richard Ihediwa, the PDP described Adesina as “an embarrassment to the Presidency.”

Ihediwa said the President’s spokesman is only trying to impress his “paymaster” and urged him to address the issues raised by the opposition party instead of embarking on “insults, shadow-chasing and fouling of the media space with uncouth language.”

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“Our answer remains that inasmuch as we know that this Presidency aide lacks depth on his current assignment and has no credible defence, being overwhelmed in his job of trying to launder the image of this government, the characteristic resort always, to lies, malice and vituperations should not be an option,” the statement said.

The PDP further said, “While we appreciate the fact that Mr. Adesina is not conversant and knowledgeable in politics and intricate issues of governance, he should have applied the common sense of covering his hollowness in this regard and save the Presidency the embarrassment of an arrogant attempt to wave off very serious questions hanging in the face of the present administration.

“May we remind the Presidency that Nigerians are still waiting for its response to salient national issues raised by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, bordering on relentless abuse of power, selective application of war against corruption, witch-hunt of opposition elements and perceived political opponents, threats to democratic institutions and government’s clear of lack direction on economic issues.”

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“How can Mr. Adesina explain the fact that while former PDP governors and ministers are being arrested, their APC counterparts, who have more damaging petitions with anti-graft agencies are being rewarded with ministerial positions, with yet others granted APC tickets for Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections respectively?” it asked.

“Perhaps Adesina is confirming that the nation now has two separate laws for prosecuting the war against corruption; one, to nail PDP members and perceived opponents of government, and the other to protect APC members and friends of the present administration.

“We challenge Adesina, in the euphoria of trying to satisfy his paymaster, to defend him by showing Nigerians any APC member that has so far been invited or arrested by any anti-graft agency, other than PDP members and perceived political opponents such as Senate President Bukola Saraki.

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“It is unfortunate that in trying to wear his master the garb of a democrat, Mr. Adesina has instead muddled up and bungled his assignment with his arrogant posturing on important national issues. Whereas this media aide may have done well in the confines of his newsroom as a media professional, he has so far succeeded in making a mockery of the office of a spokesperson of the President of a country like Nigeria,” the statement said.

The statement concluded that “the Presidency must note that Nigerians are still waiting for a proper response on the issues raised instead of invective from an aide who apparently talks before he thinks.”

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