APC says PDP is incurably shortsighted
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it can understand the “incurable shortsightedness” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The ruling party said this in reaction to reports that the role of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is being whittled down.
In his Independence Day speech on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIPs) would now be under the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development.
N-SIPs was previously under the office of the vice-president. This had led to comments that Osinbajo’s influence had been reduced.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, accused the opposition party of being behind such reports.
Issa-Onilu said it would appreciate “rigorous and educated critic of government actions.”
“We can understand PDP’s incurable shortsightedness and its leaders’ disdain for the good of the ordinary Nigerians, but we urge a more rigorous and educated critic of government actions from those who have taken on the noble responsibility of reviewing public policies,” he said.
“This is a duty Nigerians expect of the media and the critics.
“Recently, the media has been awashed with an absurd conspiracy of an imagined rift in the presidency, which according to conspirators led to the alleged ‘whittling down’ of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s roles in the administration,” Issa-Onilu said.
“This happens to be one of the many fake news flying around in recent days. President Muhammadu Buhari announced plans to upgrade the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIPs) to a full fledged ministry status with the take-off of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“The conspirators are desperately trying to link government decisions on the N-SIPs, which have been under the office of the Vice President since it started in 2016 to support the conspiracies, however mundane.
“In the same October 1 address, the President announced the recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Was this also to ‘whittle down’ the powers of the OSGF?”
Issa-Onilu said those claiming that there is a rift in the presidency have failed to see commendable efforts of the current government.
It is better for Osinbajo to speak about the issue himself. If he is quiet regarding the rift, then there is one. Expect the media to continue to report it that way. You guys should learn how to put matters to rest.