The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday asked President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently take a firm action to stop herdsmen from killing people in the country.
The PDP made its position known in a communique at the end of its combined National Working Committee (NEC) and Governor’s Forum meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
It was the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, who signed the document.
The main opposition party urged Mr. Buhari to take responsibility for the protection of lives and property of Nigerian, saying it the most important duty of the president.
The PDP, however, described the federal government’s decision to set up a committee to address the killings as “pretentious” and challenged the president fulfil his oath of office by protecting Nigerians.
Part of the communique reads, “The president must take responsibility for the protection of lives and property of Nigerians which is the most important of his responsibilities.
“Setting up a committee to address the killings is a pretentious approach to a matter that requires firm action and leadership by the president in line with its oath of office to protect Nigerians irrespective of creed, tribe or political affiliation.”
On the agitation for the country’s restructuring, the party said it has mandated its members in the National Assembly to urgently initiate a bill to address issues bothering on restructuring.
It accused the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of paying lip service to genuine demands of Nigerians to restructure the country.
Apparently reacting to the spate of arrest and trial of its members, the PDP advised Mr. Buhari to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to always adhere to the rule of law by obeying court judgements and orders.
It, however, insisted that massive corruption is going on in the management of fuel subsidy despite the federal government’s claim that it has stopped subsidy on petrol.
“Billions of naira are deducted monthly at Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings’’ the PDP claimed.
The opposition party said it is against the planned withdrawal of $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) by the federal government to fight insurgency.
“We want to state unequivocally that neither the Governor’s Forum nor the Federal Executive Council has the power of appropriation of Federated Accounts, as such powers reside with the national and state assemblies,” the communique stated.
The party thanked its members for continued support, noting that it is fully prepared for the 2019 polls.
It also assured Nigerians aspiring for elective positions to consider the platform.
“We want to assure that no established organ of the party is allowed to align with any presidential aspirant,” the party stated.
