The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Thursday, said the appointment of the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje, as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that it is a den of thieves.
Ganduje had attracted public opium after he was caught on video stuffing bribe money in dollars into his overflowing ‘agbada’ while in office.
This earned him the nickname “Gandollar” and “Babanriga Banker”.
Though the matter was later investigated, and no charges were brought against him by the authorities on account of his being a governor and protected from criminal prosecution by the constitution, the matter has stuck with him like a fly on the excreta.
However, commenting on the choice of Ganduje as National Chairman of the APC, the opposition PDP said Gabduje was ethically challenged on account of the alleged bribery.
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PDP said that “for choosing the ethically challenged former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as its National Chairman”, the Party has confirmed that it has no regard for decency.
Speaking in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, PDP said, “The choice of Dr Ganduje by the APC as its National Chairman, despite the stinking corruption and bribery allegations against him in the public domain, further confirms that the APC is a cesspit of corruption and a haven for thieves, bribe takers and treasury looters.”
According to PDP, “by appointing Ganduje, notoriously referred to as “Gandola” by Nigerians over the infamous video of him barefacedly stuffing his gown with US Dollar notes as bribe allegedly from a contractor, while serving as Governor of Kano State, further validates that the APC is a putrid Party of embezzlers and charlatans.
“It also underscores APC’s impunity and insensitivity to the demands of honesty, integrity and moral rectitude required of public office holders.
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that only last month, a forensic analysis by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) confirmed that the content of the 2017 “Gandollar” viral video was not doctored.
“It speaks volume of the APC under Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Ganduje, who should ordinarily be under prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged bribery, is rather crowned and rewarded with the position of the APC National Chairman.
“Such can only happen in a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) like the APC, which, according to the former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, is replete with “political bandits”.
“In any case, the PDP describes the assertion by the embattled APC National Chairman that he will “hit the ground running” to ensure the victory of his fizzling Party and disillusioned members in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa as a pathetic day-dreaming.
“The PDP reminds Ganduje of how he was humiliated by Nigerians and failed woefully as Co-Chairman of APC National Campaign Council for the July 2022 Osun State Governorship election, which the PDP overwhelmingly won. Indeed, a worse crushing defeat awaits Ganduje and his Party, the APC, in the November 11, 2023, Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.
“Moreover, the mortifying defeat of the APC in Kano State under his watch as Governor in the 2023 general elections shows that Ganduje has no political value and cannot earn any victory in any electoral contest in the country.
“If Ganduje is desirous to “hit the ground running” as he asserted, he should run to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution for cases of alleged bribery and corruption hanging around his neck”, PDP said.
