SAN FRANCISCO, January 06, (THEWILL) – A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Raymond Dokpesi has described the $2.1 billion arms deal as a hoax aimed at decimating the leadership of the opposition party.
Dokpesi, who is standing trail on a six-count charge of money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, among others, expressed confidence that the courts would prove that the coinage was nothing but a hoax.
He expressed optimism that the prosecution of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh; Acting Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Bello Haliru will fail when defence begins.
Dokpesi, was speaking at an investiture on him on Wednesday by the PDP Youth Vanguards as Freedom Fighter of PDP, however said he would not make comments regarding the several matters filed before the courts against him and other members of PDP as doing so would be subjudice.
Referring to the clamp down on Second Republic politicians when President Muhammadu Buhari took over as military head of state in 1983, Dokpesi said Nigerians “are reminded of the events of 1984/85, which by any stretch of comparison are similar to the events of today.”
“So much water has passed under the bridge since the general elections of April 2015. So much has been said about our members, many of whom have been publicly vilified even without being heard.
“I assure you that we will not be weakened or demoralized in playing our role as the important opposition voice which is a very ingredient in any democratic state.
“We may be harassed, we may even be bent, but we are resolute and will not be broken! Even as I speak now the relentless pursuit of our members across the country is being intensified and I can say with some measure of certainty that a lot more lie in stock for the PDP and its members.”
Dokpesi added that the PDP was at a key stage of development as it had embarked on critical reforms to reorganize, re-brand and restructure itself for the challenges of governance but regretted that the governing APC was making efforts to impede the journey to political maturity through the manipulation of the federal system to serve purely partisan interest.
He stated that a free press is as important as other elements that help to check the monstrous power of the state, and observed that his media outfit, DAAR Communications Plc had been at the forefront of the fight against impunity and promotion of democracy even from the military days.
He called on members of the party to remain resolute and stand behind the leadership of PDP at all levels and ensure that the party gets fair hearing and judgement in all the cases at the various election tribunals.
National Coordinator of PDP Youth Vanguards, Ibrahim Bala Aboki condemned the witch-hunt of PDP members by the governing party.
Aboki decried what he called Federal Government’s selective anti-corruption war and continuous arrest of PDP members by the anti-corruption agency.
The group had earlier staged a demonstration at PDP National Secretariat in Abuja where it called for the immediate release of Metuh.
