The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday lamented that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is treating its members as “prisoners of war”.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, argued that while the former ruling party had maintained an unwavering stand against corruption, the Buhari government had engaged in deliberate witch-hunt of PDP members under the pretext of probes.
Metuh spoke while addressing PDP stakeholders in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, a statement by the Kogi State Government said.
The PDP spokesman condemned alleged Federal Government’s “uncivilised method” of arrests, intimidation and denial of the fundamental human rights of PDP members, who served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
He said regardless of the alleged intimidation and victimisation of PDP members by Buhari’s government, PDP would win in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
Metuh noted that rather than provide a policy direction for Nigerians, the APC administration was victimising and denying former government officials in the last administration their fundamental human rights.
He added that APC government was rather dissipating energy intimidating its members under the guise of probing the past government.
Metuh said, “We are being treated as if we are criminals or prisoners of war. We are being treated as if we are refugees. We are not afraid; we have faith in our strength and unity. We have faith in the peace unity and progress of Nigeria.
“If the ruling party believes that there is anyone who has served in the Federal Government and is guilty of corruption practices, they are free within the law to investigate as long as they go through due process and observe the rule of law.
“PDP is not afraid of the intimidation, harassment and arrest of its members by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, if the arrest is done within the confines of the law”.
On the crisis in the Kogi chapter of the party, Metuh explained that the decision by the PDP national leadership to repeat the ward congress in the state was a new vision of the party to carry everyone along.
He, therefore, urged members to put the party’s interest in their mind, reminding them that power belongs to God.
The PDP spokesperson assured the party stakeholders that due process would be followed in the ward congress, expressing confidence that the party would, after the repeat congress, come out more united and prepared for the task to win the forthcoming governorship election.
Earlier, the Governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada (retd.), who is seeking re-election, said the state PDP was one big family, appealing to members of the party to abide by the congress rules towards ensuring a successful congress.
