The PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) says President Muhammadu Buhari should not bother with any New Year Message, as he has nothing to offer Nigerians after his promise of more hardship in the coming year.
PPCO insists the message will be a rehash of fake promises which had been foisted on Nigerians since December 2015.
The PPCO says President Buhari has already admitted failure in governance, that he has no solutions and as such will only dwell on fictitious claims and cosmetic patriotism, in an effort to sway Nigerians and divert their attention from his failures and insensitivity to their problems.
However, in case Mr. President considers the New Year message, a ritual which he must fulfill, he should use the occasion to provide answers to the allegations that he soiled his hands in the alleged corrupt acquisition of Etisalat Nigeria and Keystone Bank PLC by members of his family under the official cover of his Presidency.
No New Year message would be more apt than Mr. President explaining how his family members came about the sum of N1.032 trillion for this scandalous acquisition.
Furthermore, President Buhari should use his New Year message, if any, to clear the issues of the alleged forgery of his WAEC Certificate, alleged looting of N33 billion meant for the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the diversion of the repatriated $322 million by agents of his Presidency, under the guise of sharing the fund to the poor.
President Buhari may also wish to use the occasion to provide answers for the false performance claims in his 2019 budget speech that led to his being booed by federal legislators.
Moreover, instead of harping on his discredited war against corruption, President Buhari should use his New Year message to explain the whereabouts of the over N11 trillion that disappeared from government coffers under his watch, including the N9 trillion detailed in the leaked memo at the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), which his administration has refused to account for.
President Buhari must not continue to play the saint when his administration has skeletons in its cupboard. He must provide answers to Nigerians. If not, he should not bother sending any New Year message as the nation has moved beyond mere rhetoric, blame game and false promises, which have been the hallmarks of his administration.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Director, Media & Publicity
PDP Presidential Campaign Organization