The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called for probe of security votes since 1984 as well as Federal Government’s interventions in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other countries.
The party insists that it is ready to approach ‘Truth Commission’ on the matter with facts at it disposal, stressing that its support for the fight against corruption is unrelenting and demands establishment of a National Truth Commission.
The party harps on the need for an honest, holistic and total anti-corruption crusade.
Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement at the weekend, the party demanded the trial and prosecution of all those involved in corrupt acts including those “who may have returned ‘loots’ to the government.”
The party added that whilst it supports moves to rid the nation of the cancerous infliction of corruption, it is totally against any measure of lopsided public trial of accused persons.
“We are completely against any one-sided public trial and mob conviction of accused persons without following the age-long and worldwide legal process wherein all accused persons are presumed innocent until the contrary is lawfully proved. We do not believe that mere investigation confers a guilt verdict on those concerned and the government should stop the brutal mob and public conviction of individuals and the transfer of the burden of proof of people being investigated,” the statement read.
The party spokesman argued that even though media and public war against corruption are good, they should not be limited to only those opposed to the President and the ruling party.
The PDP expressed its reservation, stating that: “Until top officials of the former government open up on the exact source of the funding, it remains premature to be accusing our party members of corrupt practices.”
The PDP demanded the nation to extend its investigation to include security votes of pre-Goodluk Jonathan’S administration to ascertain its spendings, especially the era in which Ibrahim Babangida held sway as former head of state.
The PDP said: “If the government’s investigation includes the expenditure of President Jonathan security votes from 2011, then it should be extended to a public inquisition on the following: “The security votes of all past Presidents and Heads of state from 1984, Petroleum Trust Fund from 1995 to 1999, expenditure of our military purchases and expenditure during the Bakassi wars, fight against militancy in the Niger Delta, military interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda among others.
In what may appear to be a bold question mark of the integrity of funds for the President Muhammadu Buhari campaign funds, the PDP called for further inquisition into the funding sources of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign organisation as well as that of the PDP in the 2015 elections.
