No better apology than returning looted funds, FG replies PDP

The Federal Government has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to go the whole hog with its apology to Nigerians by returning all the funds ‘looted from the public treasury under its watch during its sixteen years in power.

The PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus had apologized to Nigerians for the mistakes of the party leading to its defeat during the 2015 general elections.

But, in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, challenged the PDP to show the genuineness of its apology through a discernible change of attitude.

''The PDP presided over an unprecedented looting of the public treasury, perhaps the worst of its kind in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world,” the minister said.

“Therefore, the best evidence of penitence for such a party is not just to own up and apologize, but to also return the looted funds. Anything short of that is mere deceit,” Mohammed announced.

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The minister noted that despite the paucity of funds, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government has invested heavily in infrastructure and social investment programmes.

''Even with the paucity of funds, this administration has spent an unprecedented amount of money on infrastructural development and Social Investment Programme, among others. Returning looted funds will provide more money for these programmes and make life more meaningful for Nigerians. There is no better apology than that.

''If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. PDP, press the reset button. Stop sabotaging the work of this administration, which is packing the mess you left behind, through your reckless statements and unfounded allegations. Play responsible opposition politics. Put Nigeria's interest over and above partisan interest. Temper your desperation to return to power. Spend quality time in the purgatory and you will be forgiven,'' he said.

The PDP had accused the APC government of using the abduction and release of the Dapchi schoolgirls to score political goals.