Amaechi can’t serve as minister, Buhari’s campaign DG – PDP queries

By Lateef Ibrahim

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, from the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The opposition PDP hinged its demand on the appointment of Amaechi as the Director-General (DG) of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term campaign.
The party, in a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
The PDP said, “If APC has any strand of dignity, then Amaechi must resign as the Minister of Transportation, having been appointed and already functioning as the DG of President Buhari’s Campaign.
“Under the constitution of Nigeria, Mr. Amaechi cannot combine the job of a minister of the Federal Republic with another responsibility such as the DG of a campaign organization. Amaechi’s action in accepting the job, while still holding office as minister, is in clear breach of the oath of office and the oath of allegiance which he swore in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended).
He should, therefore, resign his office as minister with immediate effect,” it said.
The party noted that Amaechi, perhaps in his desperation for recognition, has already began to function as the DG Campaign for Buhari’s second term, adding that, he already held meetings with some of the governors elected on the platform of the APC.
It recalled that when as a serving Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih, was appointed to head the campaign of then President Olusegun Obasanjo, he resigned as Minister.
Accusing APC of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, the PDP expressed shock that APC is more interested in setting up an electoral structure for a second term when Nigerians are dying daily of hunger and poverty, while others are being slaughtered in their communities by mauraders; all owing particularly to APC’s dismal performance in its nearly three years in office.
“Is it not instructive for Nigerians to now know that the APC has not the littlest agenda on governance for our people, and does not have the interest of Nigerians at heart. They have shown that all they care for is their selfish political and pecuniary interests,” the PDP said.
The party, therefore, urged Nigerians to respond with the full force of the votes and kick out the selfish and incompetent APC out of office come 2019.