APC replies Atiku, asks PDP to account for Abuja CCTV project, $2bn China loan

The ruling All Progressives Congress has (APC) reacted to a comment by a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on the nation’s foreign loans, describing it as “un-researched, unintelligent and pedestrian”.

The ruling party also tasked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to account for the failed $460 million Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) project the then ruling party awarded in August 2010.

The APC stated this in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena in Abuja on Monday.

According to the party, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi had explained that the guarantee/clause in the loan deals was the global standard, irrespective of the country granting the loans.

The statement said: “Perhaps, Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could redirect their energies to explaining to Nigerians the status of the failed $460 million Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) awarded in August 2010 by the immediate-past PDP administration.

“Also, they should explain the over $2 billion China loan the PDP administration took between 2010 and 2013 alone; $16 billion spent on power with no electricity; fuel subsidy rackets; counter-insurgency funds that were diverted and shared to political cronies, among other shocking heists.

Read also: APC TO ATIKU: Apologise to Nigerians for PDP’s wasted loans

“Recall that the failed CCTV installation project was initiated by late President Umaru Yar’Adua and awarded in August 2010 by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to help security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to check the growing insecurity.

“Since the agreement became signed, Nigeria has been servicing this loan to China while Nigerians are yet to attest to the visibility of CCTV project and unable to explain the status of the video surveillance project. The matter is subject to a legislative probe.

“In all of these, we are starkly reminded that the PDP remains a corrupted and damaged product. Nigerians must continue to reject the party at all levels of government.

“In the area of fiscal discipline, prudence, curbing leakages, are we currently getting it right? An emphatic yes! Every kobo expended on infrastructure counts. Verifiable evidence abound in the fast expanding national railway projects, airport remodeling, among other critical infrastructure projects being undertaken by the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

“The days of phoney contracts, as institutionalised by successive PDP administrations, are fast fading.”

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