The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the Federal Government would have faced the wrath of Nigerians if the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and construction giants, CCECC had not clarified the status of the Chinese experts that came into the country in April despite a ban on commercial flights.
The party in a Saturday statement had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government to clarify the status of the Chinese medical experts or risk the wrath of Nigerians.
In a follow-up statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan today, the party accused the Muhammadu Buhari presidency of denials and cover-ups over the whereabouts and activities of the Chinese medical experts.
“Our party, on behalf of Nigerians, demands an immediate apology from the Federal Government for taking the citizens for granted in its handling of the Chinese.
“The party said the conduct of the Federal Government in disclaiming the Chinese team and declaring that it cannot account for their whereabouts after it had accorded them state reception, had further exposed the dishonesty, lack of transparency and inherent corruption that pervade the APC administration and for which Nigerians have completely lost confidence in it.
“The PDP described as bizarre that the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclaimed the Chinese team, denied involvement and knowledge of their whereabouts whereas clarifications by the Chinese Embassy and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) indicate that the team had been in CCECC facility and had also collaborated with our health agencies.
“The party noted that the declaration by the minister of health that government cannot account for the medical team it officially received, directly triggered public alarm and raised suspicion of clandestine designs against our nation, consequent upon which our party issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government.
“The PDP noted that the APC administration would have faced the anger of Nigerians for its lack of transparency, at the lapsing of the 48-hours ultimatum, but for the clarifications by the Chinese Embassy and CCECC.
“With this clarification by CCECC, the PDP demands that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 should come clean on the reasons it claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the Chinese team and apologize to Nigerians.
“This is because our party believes that the health minister’s conduct betrayed a plot by certain officials of the Federal Government to deceive Nigerians and ostensibly distract public attention from the acts of corruption being perpetrated in the fight against COVID-19 in our country.
“The PDP consequently demands that the Federal Government should immediately declare and account for, in details, all funds, equipment, therapeutics and sundry aids it has received from international and indigenous bodies and individuals, given the exposed proclivities of its officials for diversion of such aids.
“The PDP applauded Nigerians for supporting its 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and assured that it would never relent in protecting their interest at all times, particularly against the cabal in the APC, who are bent at not only pillaging our national resources but also to cause confusion in the polity,” the statement read.
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