PDP demands Shittu’s arrest over certificate forgery

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Friday that the revelation that the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, dodged his compulsory one-year national service further validates its position that President Muhammadu Buhari has many persons of questionable character in his cabinet.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP accused Buhari of appointing fraudulent persons to hold key offices in his government which is an indication that Buhari has a weighty integrity burden, contrary to the ‘Mr. Clean’ posturing which his handlers had always wanted Nigerians to believe.

The party demanded an explanation into what the President intends to gain from appointment questionable characters into sensitive key positions, a development it says questions his integrity as a leader.

PDP said the President should “provide an answer to allegations that such individuals are being used as henchmen to fritter away trillions of naira from our treasury to service All Progressives Congress (APC) interests and the Presidency cabal”

It could be recalled that President Buhari remained mum, refused to sack and prosecute the erstwhile Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun as he learned that she forged her National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate until she voluntary submitted her resignation.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) kept mute despite cries by Nigerians to investigate the weighty allegations. Mrs. Adeosun left the country unchecked days after resigning which questioned the anti-graft war by the current administration.

Similarly, Buhari has refused to comment or prosecute his Special Assistant on Prosecution and Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla despite the declaration by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) that he paraded a fake certificate.

The PDP accused Buhari of officially covering corrupt officials in various sectors, including the Petroleum Ministry, where over N10 trillion is alleged to have been stolen under fictitious contract and sleazy oil subsidy deals as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), adding that the indicted officials were reinstated by the Presidency.

“In fact, the effrontery with which Adebayo Shittu is trying to justify his crime against the nation speaks volume of the impunity in the Buhari administration.” The PDP said.

The main opposition expressed sadness over the corruption of the Buhari administration as it “has continued to smear our nation in the international arena, leading to the current dearth of foreign direct investments and development partnership to our country.”

PDP called on the police to immediately charge Adebayo Shittu, while President Buhari should note that Nigerians have lost confidence in his anti-corruption fight.

PDP therefore urges President Buhari to prepare himself to accept defeat in the 2019 Presidential elections and quit the stage for a sincere, development oriented President that will be elected on the platform of the PDP.