By Milcah Tanimu
Osita Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of leaving a lasting and damaging legacy that continues to affect Nigeria.
Responding to recent PDP claims about an impending APC downfall, Okechukwu urged the opposition to acknowledge its role in Nigeria’s economic and social challenges. He described the PDP’s 16 years in power as “locust years” marked by corruption, mismanagement, and impunity.
According to Okechukwu, the nation has yet to recover from the “humongous culture of impunity and trust deficit” the PDP introduced. He highlighted key failures from the PDP’s administration, including corruption in the privatization of Nigeria’s electricity value chain and the 2007 general elections’ rigging.
He said, “Blatant rigging of 2007 general elections which the foremost beneficiary, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, out of good conscience, publicly acknowledged.”
Okechukwu also criticized “the conscienceless sale of legislative and ministerial quarters” that continues to drain the nation’s finances and the neglect of $23 billion Greenfield Refinery. This refinery, he argued, could have saved Nigeria over $70 billion spent on importing refined petroleum products.
Despite these concerns, Okechukwu praised Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu’s administrations for their restraint in not probing the PDP’s alleged “squandermania.”
Okechukwu added that PDP leaders should consider themselves fortunate for not being investigated for their governance failures, which he said significantly contributed to economic hardship and trust deficits in Nigeria.
He dismissed the PDP’s assertion that Nigeria is ready to return them to power. Okechukwu maintained that the APC remains committed to rebuilding the nation despite the many inherited challenges.
Okechukwu urged Nigerians to recognize the harm caused by PDP’s tenure. He emphasized that the nation must continue to prioritize accountability and progress.
