The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) said the stoppage of transactions on all accounts belonging to its Vice presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, his wife as family members as well as their businesses by agencies of the Federal Government is a political blackmail.
Director, Media & Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement yesterday, noted that since Obi’s nomination, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has made several attempts to destroy his reputation.
The statement added that the vice presidential candidate has also been receiving threats and blackmail, including threats to his life and those of his wife and children.
“Having realized that the majority of Nigerians are rallying behind the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi as the our presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively, the presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resorted to all manners of machinations, including smear campaigns and direct attacks on their persons and business concerns, in a bid to run them down.
“The presidency is intimidated by Peter Obi’s resume, particularly, his general acceptance as epitome of fiscal responsibility, frugality and transparency in governance.
“Otherwise, why is the presidency on a wild goose chase in investigating Peter Obi, who left office as governor of Anambra state five years ago with a nationally acclaimed clean record, intact reputation for frugality, transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and leaving behind a huge saving of N75 billion in cash and investments; without owing any salaries, pensions, gratuities or even contractors for contracts executed,” PDP said.
It said the presidency and the APC were merely chasing shadow in their attacks on its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Obi, as their records before Nigerians speak for them.
“All discerning Nigerians know that the reasons for an investigation on a man like Peter Obi, is a journey to no where aimed to stifle him of funds as well as attempt to distract our campaign and divert attention from the failures of the Buhari administration,” it added.
The party accused President Muhammadu Buhari of condoning the looting of the nation’s treasuries by his party leaders and the cabal in his presidency, noting that even, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari had even alluded to this.
The campaign council reminded President Buhari that neither he nor Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was in 2015, as candidates, harassed, attacked at the airport or subjected to blackmails, and wonder why they are now employing such tactics just because Nigerians have resolved to do away with them, come 2019.
