The deputy national youth leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested and detained former Delta State governor and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, because his principal and former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, attacked the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu.
Osadolor, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja, also claimed that the Tinubu administration is set to go after key opposition leaders who criticise the incumbent administration policies.
While he called for Okowa’s release, the PDP youth leader also called for an overhaul of the EFCC Act to stop the president from appointing the leadership of the anti-graft commission.
He described EFCC as the political arm of the Tinubu-led APC government and warned that nothing must happen to Okowa and key leaders of the PDP.
He said, “It is an open secret that this government has made it a hubby to pick on key leaders of opposition, especially those with capacity to give them a run and guide the people against the evil that this current government is unleashing on the people.
“Former governor Ifeanyi Okowa was a running mate to former President Atiku Abubakar in the last Presidential election and he was walking free until former President Atiku Abubakar shredded the economic policies of President Tinubu. It is surprising that a man who came to the EFCC office himself was detained and till now, he is still under detention.
“The man was not avoiding arrest, the man is a global figure and he is robbed around humongous figures which is not true. The Delta State government has not said that its money is missing. EFCC Port Harcourt and EFCC Abuja is playing both the role of a litigant and also that of the prosecution and going to the media with an investigation that was purportedly ongoing. The development is very dangerous and we must condemn it.”
Osadolor knocked EFCC’s handling of the case involving former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello and the agency’s refusal to look into alleged corrupt acts involving some cabinet members in Tinubu’s administration.
“What is the difference with what has happened in the case of Gov. Ifeany Okowa if not mere politics?
“We want to put on record that PDP youths across Nigeria and especially stakeholders in the Southern part of Nigeria want to put President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Agency the EFCC which is now a political arm of his government on notice that nothing must happen to Ifeanyi Okowa and nothing must happen to the key leaders of the PDP.
“We saw what happened recently in Edo state when they invited the Accountant General of Edo state. All these are targeted at killing the opposition in this country. Democracy without viral opposition is close to monarchy.”
Osadolor stressed the need to respect the integrity and constitution of Nigeria.
“Our demands are that the EFCC will see itself as an extension of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or the Presidency. It should be a neutral independent body that investigates financial crimes. But it has taken it upon itself to be the chief financial hunter of opposition leaders in this country.
“We are calling for a total overhaul of the EFCC Act, so that no President, no matter how powerful he is, can appoint directors for the EFCC. Let the judiciary or the Senate be the one that will appoint Chairman or Board members of the EFCC. It should be removed from the exclusive control of the Presidency.
“Gov. Okowa should be released, media trials and embarrassment of opposition leaders must stop. We should also know that there is a pattern, from the arrest of Okowa, by next week he will go after Gov. Obaseki. This is a plan targeted at opposition leaders in this country. We are not saying that political office leaders should not be called to account but it should be devoid of political sentiments,” he said.
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