…says ‘Nigerians deserve apology now’
Main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has deplored the Presidency for denying that the President Muhammadu Buhari convened last Thursday’s National Executive Committee meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress inside the chambers of the Federal Executive Council.
President had drawn criticisms from some individuals, including a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, for hosting the APC NEC meeting inside the FEC chamber.
The critics had argued that the chamber is meant for government business and that the party’s NEC meeting did not fall under the category of government business that should be conducted from the hall.
But the Presidency in its response on Sunday had argued that since Buhari lives in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and no one could dictate to him the right place to hold meetings within the premises.
The PDP has, however, said it is unfortunate that the Presidency would post a denial even when the media and the public space are already awash with photographs and videos of the NEC meeting, with APC leaders physically in attendance inside the FEC chambers where Buhari presided.
The main opposition party said it was shocked that Buhari’s Presidency could make such a denial “even when the world watched Mr President addressing the applauding APC leaders, in addition to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, physically administering oath of office on the Chairman of APC National Caretaker Committee, Mai Buni, on the floor of the FEC chamber.”
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said in a statement on Sunday, “It is a fact before Nigerians that the meeting was physical and only virtual to the extent that some members of the APC NEC members were linked via conference call.
“Moreover, our party refers the Buhari presidency to reports already in the media where the AGF admitted administering oath of office to the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee; an event that took place on the floor of the FEC chamber. Such a denial by President Buhari’s handlers has further exposed the decadence in the APC and the Buhari presidency.
“What Nigerians expected of the Buhari presidency and the APC was to tender an unreserved apology to the nation and desist from further desecration of our national values and official conduct requirements.
“The PDP charges President Buhari to call his handlers to order so as to protect the integrity of his Presidency from further damage.”