PDP accuses APC, Buhari presidency of siphoning N1.2bn farmers’ fund

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to fleece Nigerians through the extortion of N1.2 billion from poor beneficiaries of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, to fund Mr. President’s 2019 re-election bid.

The PDP in a statement by it’s presidencial campaign media and publicity director, Kola Olagbodiyan said “This is just as the party has challenged the Buhari President to speak out on the alleged fleecing of Nigerians to the tune of N2.6 trillion through hidden illegal N48 tax per liter of petrol, which motorists in the country have been bearing since the fuel price increased from PDP subsidized cost of N87 to presumably unsubsidized cost of N145.

“The PDP completely condemns such acts of corruption, particularly the attempt by the Buhari Presidency to draw financial kickback from poor beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrower’s Programme, in violation of our financial regulations.

“Information at our disposal also reveals that the Anchor Borrower’s scanadal is yet another scheme by the Buhari Presidency to siphon public funds and surreptitiously route same to Mr. President’s campaign.

“To achieve this ignoble scheme, the Buhari Presidency and the APC shamefully constituted a phony Anchor Borrowers Farmers’ Association, which they claimed has 12 million members, and through which they plan to siphon and launder money from public coffers to fund President Buhari’s campaign.

“Our check reveals that no such association exists and that the membership figure is just a ruse, another fabrication and attempt at procurement of fake endorsement by the Buhari Presidency, to create an impression that Nigerians are supporting President Buhari and the APC.

“Further investigation reveals how the Buhari Presidency has been secretly diverting huge part of various social intervention funds to the Buhari campaign while handing paltry sums to Nigerians. This is in addition how agents of the Presidency carrying out APC’s vote buying project, particularly the Trader-moni scheme, have been illegally collecting 10 percent kickback from beneficiaries.

“Now that Nigerians have refused to contribute to Mr. President’s re-election bid, due to his failure in office, the Buhari Presidency and the APC are seeking ways to legitimize their stealing of public funds to finance their campaign and service the wasteful lifestyles of their leaders.

“The PDP challenges President Buhari to speak out and not continue to feign ignorance of these allegations bothering directly on corruption in his Presidency. He should know that keeping quiet will not help him. Nigerians have seen through the lies, deception and contrivances of his administration and are not ready to allow such to continue in 2019.” They added.