The Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party have hit back at the All Progressives Congress over its plan to probe the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan.
The new party, in its manifesto, on Friday, said it would pursue an eight- cardinal programme, including war against corruption, food security, accelerated power supply, integrated transport network, free education, devolution of power, accelerated economic growth and affordable health care.
On the war against corruption, it said, "We shall negotiate oil deals, unveil the secrecy surrounding the ownership of 49 per cent of the Nigeria Liquefied gas, query the over N50tn oil revenue which accrued to the Federation Account between 2000 and 2013 and recover billions of US dollars which ministries, departments and agencies failed to remit to the Federation Account."
The Peoples Democratic Party administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, have been ruling the country since 1999.
Commenting on the APC manifesto, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said, "They should wait until when they get power; they are dreaming, and they should keep on dreaming. They are not waking up now, until 2015 when we win the elections."
He said the APC was a party of daydreamers unaware of the political reality awaiting them in 2015.
He added that the APC was the coming together of 'tribalists, politicians extolling the vice of selfishness and religious extremists in the country.'
He challenged the Action Congress of Nigeria, one of the parties in the APC merger, to get the Lagos State Government to probe the past and current ACN administrations in Lagos, which he accused of enriching an individual with the collective resources of the people.
Metuh further said the real manifesto of the APC was the promotion of ethnicity and religious extremism in the country.
He said, "I must say that they should concentrate on getting the Lagos State Government to probe the wanton corruption and the criminal activities of the past ACN government and the present one as well in Lagos; they should probe the past administrations that have governed Lagos to recover the money for the people.
"A government that is built on the enslavement of the people to satisfy one man, a government that is predicated on taking from the people to satisfy an individual can ever be supported by the people.
"Any party that is tribal, joined by religious extremists can never form power.
"We are aware of their thinking; the PDP is aware of them; at the appropriate time, we will let Nigerians know their true manifesto — it is to promote tribal differences and religious extremism in Nigeria — that is their manifesto, which is what they want to do."
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said the APC manifesto showed that 'desperate people do not see clearly.'
In an interview with one of our correspondents, he said leaders of the party should first register the group as a political party, present themselves for elections and win the elections before talking of probe.
The presidential aide also said the present administration was not afraid of probe.
He said, "This has shown clearly that leaders of opposition parties are bereft of ideas. It is clear that when one is desperate, one does not see clearly.
"What they should concern themselves with first is to get the party registered. How can somebody who is single be saying that after marrying, he will give birth to a child and the child will become a doctor or a lawyer? The right thing is to marry first and then plan your life with your wife.
He added that the FG was not afraid of probes.
"By the way, this administration is not afraid of probes. In fact, probes are ongoing. The National Assembly is probing all the sectors, including the oil sector. This administration is constantly under probe. It opens its book for scrutiny.
"(Muhammadu) Buhari still believes that we are in the military era. He is not aware that there are relevant arms of government that perform such task. He does not know that even in the event that he becomes a President, he cannot be a dictator. A military leader is different from a democratic leader. The National Assembly performs oversight functions.
"We are ready for them. Let them win the election first before talking of probe. They should jettison sentiments and try to be mature politicians," he said.
