- * Says Buhari Has Won Again On Credible Polls With The Anambra Election
By Chinwendu Agoha (Governance Reporter)
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has charged the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, to explain why he was gifted 25 exotic vehicles worth billions of naira by an oil magnate currently standing trial on corruption charges, rather than attempting to stall discussions on publicly available information on PDP-era corruption.
The group gave this challenge in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, and Secretary Cassidy Madueke in reaction to a threat of legal action by the embattled opposition figure.
"We are amused to hear that Mr. Secondus is threatening to take us to court for mentioning his name in a recent press statement titled 'Ayu, not different from previous corruption-tainted PDP leaders-BMO'.
"All we did was to simply recall how the suspended PDP chairman's name was mentioned in the course of the corruption trial of Jide Omokore, an ally of former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by a prosecution witness as having received 25 exotic cars from what is believed to be from proceeds of corruption.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the witness who is a top management staff of a major car dealership told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba that his company 'supplied 23 cars to Adamu Muazu, among them were 5 Land Cruiser Jeeps. We also supplied 25 cars to Prince Uche Secondus by order of Omokore and we also supplied nine vehicles to Albert Bassey.'
"So what we did, in essence, is to quote a court session which was well reported in 2018 by all the major news outlets and which details are public material", it said.
BMO added that the erstwhile PDP chairman should be more interested in getting the court to clear his name, rather than seeking to muzzle public opinion.
According to the group, "here is a man under whose tenure, PDP made several unverifiable claims against President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration under the guise of opposition politics. But today he is threatening legal action against us for citing a reference to him by a witness which was also backed up with invoices in court.
"It is also in the public domain that Secondus acknowledged collecting vehicles from Omokore whom he described as a long-standing friend, so it would be great to hear his explanation for the gift of 25 exotic cars which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the court were paid for from the $1.6bn said to be proceeds of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.
"And like we said in an earlier press statement, there is hardly any former or present PDP chairman that did not have to deal with corruption allegations." The group again urged Nigerians to ensure that the former ruling party does not have unhindered access to the nation's collective wealth in 2023.
Meanwhile, the BMO has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level playing field in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra State won by former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
In a statement by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, BMO said that it was a conduct that is now a tradition under the Buhari administration.
"We were really not surprised to hear Professor Soludo singling out President Buhari for praise in his acceptance speech shortly after he was declared Governor-elect because we have heard similar post-election speeches from impressed members of opposition parties over the years.
"Soludo's position is not different from what the outgoing Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, said when he flew into Abuja a few days after he won his second term in 2017 to thank the President for keeping his promise to ensure a free and fair election.
"And we dare say no Nigerian should forget how former Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) turned up at the Presidential Villa to commend President Buhari for his non-interference in the December 2015 gubernatorial elections in the State, against a formidable ruling party candidate, Timipre Sylva.
"We recall that he was emphatic that there was no attempt to use what is known as 'federal might' in the PDP years to sway the election in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in contrast to what prevailed in Nigeria's political space in the pre-Buhari era.
"This has since been the situation, so we were also not surprised to see that Nigerians are now appreciating this with the deluge of commendations in the social media for the President after Soludo was declared victorious".
BMO urged other politicians, including State Governors, to take a cue from the President's disposition on electoral matters.
"Like many Nigerians, we are appealing to Governors to learn from the example shown by President Buhari in the conduct of local government elections.
"It is a fact that State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) operate more like an extension of government houses in virtually all the States of the federation. This is more often than not, reflected in results of local government elections that do not reflect the wishes of the people.
"This is why Nigerians have had a cause to demand that SIECs be scrapped, but we want to hold up the off-season gubernatorial election in Anambra State as an example of non-interference by the Executive which we believe State Governors should take a cue from". it added.
The group pledged that President Buhari will continue to show a demonstrable commitment to free and fair elections in the country, as well as leave behind a credible process that will stand the test of time. NNL.
