Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has
accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using his office to fight the opposition
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to media reports.
The PDP’s founding member said that since he took the
oath of office, Tinubu is supposed to be a Nigerian leader governing the
country based on its own Constitution, rules and regulations.
However, he asserted that Tinubu has turned the
country into a political enterprise.
“The Office of the President, which is highly exalted,
which should be a symbol of the nation, has been dwarfed and pulled down to the
level of a party office. If it is the APC as a political party that is giving
us a run for our money, I have no problem.
“APC can fight us because of our position as a
political party, but when the president is using his office to fight us on
behalf of APC and fight PDP knowingly, it is wrong,” Lamido told The Nigerian
Tribune during a recent interview.
He further alleged that there was ongoing intimidation
of members of the PDP in Rivers, Delta and other states of the federation where
the leaders are of the opposition party.
Lamido said, “You are aware of the ongoing
intimidation of PDP members in Rivers, Delta and other states of the federation
I find the situation disturbing and unsettling.”
Tinubu lacks moral ground to talk about
corruption
“It is terribly nauseating because when you talk about
corruption and you talk about the high office Tinubu is holding, I don’t think
he is on the moral ground to talk of corruption. I don’t think so,” Lamido
said.
“Because if you look at what Nuhu Ribadu (National
Security Adviser) talked about in 2003 under President Olusegun Obasanjo about
Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State and others presently in his
government, he (Tinubu) has no moral ground to try anybody about corruption.
“I don’t think so. In terms of nepotism and use of
state institutions as a personal enterprise, it is like what has been said on
the Sokoto to Lagos, Lagos to Calabar road projects.
“These are clear things that bother on the real abuse
of office. They harassed, intimidated and blackmailed Dr Ifeanyi Okowa because
of certain allegations. I don’t think he has that kind of moral authority, I
mean it.”
He further expressed concern that the office of the
President is being abused.
“It has been diminished to be used for political
purposes. It has therefore lost on essence. As I said, destroying PDP, using
the government machineries is not in his interest. He needs PDP more than any
other person to serve that office.
“Otherwise, he is going to be a big loser if he
destroys PDP. So, I urge him to distinguish the Office of the President from
the APC. He should stop interfering in the affairs of the PDP; it is not good
for him; it, is not good for the country and our own image. It is dangerous for
all of us,” Lamido said.
Speaking further on his impression about the war
against corruption in Nigeria under the incumbent administration, Lamido said
“Corruption is now in charge in the country.”
He expatiated saying, “The road contract between Lagos
and Calabar, there was no advert for tenders; there was no bidding; there was
no due process. No provision for it in the budget. There was no approval by the
National Assembly. Just one man awarded the contract and you talk about
corruption. I beg your pardon.”
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