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By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari said on a Friday in Abuja only God would punish the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for looting the country dry for the 16 years it was in power.
Speaking while receiving local and international support groups at the State House in Abuja, the president said the present administration only prosecute those it has established evidence of corruption against.
“Large scale abuse of trust, only God can give them punishment but those we can touch, we will get them prosecuted. We have said property confiscated should be sold and the money put into treasury and we will use,” he said.
He said the federal government would not hesitate in prosecuting corrupt officials and have their property confiscated and sold, and the money put into the treasury for public use.
The president said there was no infrastructure development or giant strides to justify the huge money spent or drained substantially from crude oil earnings by the PDP in its 16-year stewardship.
“I have said this for the umpteenth time and I have challenged them to proof me wrong but in those 16 years of PDP rule, Nigeria was getting 2.1 million times 100 (2.1 million barrels by $100 per barrel) everyday, every week.
“But when we came on board, the price fell to between $37-38 and hung around $40-$50. I went to the Central Bank of Nigeria, and asked him for money and he said there is no money,” he said.
He said the last time massive roads rehabilitation took place was under General Sani Abacha, when he served as the chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
Speaking on his integrity, the president said, “If I didn’t stick to my principle of accountability I would have been in trouble by now and I have no regrets. Everybody wants to be comfortable but the most important thing is to live within your means and bear the consequence.”
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Mr Mahmud Mohammed, said the groups are supporting the president’s re-election because of his integrity and commitment.
“From tomorrow, we will not sleep. We still start house-to-house, shop-to-shop and market-to-market campaign to ensure your victory,” he said.
He said for the first time in the history of campaigns, a sitting government is campaigning with meager funds generated from well wishers because the president directed that no public funds should be spent on his campaign.
