–Accused Buhari of failure and incompetence in private and public enterprises

–Says Lai Mohammed has earned himself a notoriety in Nigeria, from ‘Lai’ with ‘lie

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday slammed president Muhammadu Buhari and the minister of culture and information, Ahlaji Lai Mohammed, over what they described as fabrication of lies, spurious allegations and smear campaign against their Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said that president Buhari and his party (APC) are already discomfited and afraid to face a popular candidate like Atiku Abubakar, thereby engaging in smear campaign instead of issues based campaign.

The party also described Lai Mohammed as a renowned liar in Nigeria whose first name has allegedly be changed by Nigerians from ‘Lai’ with ‘Lie’.

The statement read:

“We are aware of how the unnerved and intimidated Buhari Presidency has unleashed its officials, spin doctors and hack writers with billions of naira, syphoned from our national treasury, to fabricate lies, spurious allegations and smear campaign against our Presidential candidate.

“While it is understandable that President Muhammadu Buhari is discomfited and afraid to face a popular candidate in any elections due to his incompetence, for which Nigerians earnestly seek his replacement, engaging in smear campaign, as a means of survival, is completely reprehensible and cowardly.

“President Buhari and the APC, in their desperation, should not attempt to confuse personal economic prosperity that comes from hard work, as in the case of Atiku Abubakar, with corrupt enrichment. That President Buhari failed in leading a successful personal economic life does not mean that others cannot succeed without being corrupt.

“Furthermore, unlike President Buhari, who has failed in managing both private and public enterprises; who also confessed his failure to successfully manage his own farm and has made no personal contribution to our national development, our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is internationally known as a hard-working, resourceful, versatile and successful private entrepreneur, a vast employer of labour; an ingenious citizen, who has made immeasurable contribution to our national development both in public and private lives.

“It is, therefore, a heinous perversion for Lai Mohammed, who has earned himself a notoriety, to the extent Nigerians now replace his first name, ‘Lai’ with ‘lie’, to attempt to suggest that the choice of Atiku Abubakar is a return to era of corruption, whereas President Buhari is internationally reputed to be presiding over the most corrupt administration in the history of our nation.

“It is only in an administration like the Buhari Presidency that thrives in lies and deception that characters like Lai Mohammed, with his proclivities, can be minister.

“This is the same person, who nearly caused a national crisis when he, in May 2015, accused former President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP of frustrating the activities of then Transition Committee only for the head of the APC team, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, to declare that the team had all the cooperation from the PDP.

“This is the same Lai Mohammed, who, in 2014, alleged that the PDP denied a plane carrying a state governor from landing in Ado Ekiti to attend the APC Governorship election rally in the state only for the State Government to debunk the lie stating that the governor did not travel to Ekiti but was attending official functions in the state.

“This is the same minister that has not been able to explain the circumstances surrounding his attempt to obtain over N13 million from the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) under the mask of a “loan”, against budgetary approvals and principles of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“In as much as the PDP remains committed to issue-based campaign ahead of 2019 elections, we will not by any means tolerate further lies and fabrications from the Buhari Presidency, particularly from agents who have no ethical substance to make allegations against any Nigerian.

“On a final note, the PDP counsels the Buhari Presidency and the APC to shed their resort to lies, falsehood and smear campaign and get prepared to face an inevitable crushing defeat, come 2019.”