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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the allegations by the Presidency, that certain Nigerians, particularly the elites, are waging a smear campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari shows that the administration “is being haunted by the shadows of its own failures.”
The PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, advised Buhari to stop his “new-found pleading with Nigerians to award him an unmerited pass mark.”
The Presidency had on Friday raised an alarm over what it called planned orchestrated smear campaign against Buhari, using some online newspapers and blogs.
But PDP warned the presidency to stop assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians and stop blaming elites for Buhari’s failure.
The statement read in part: “It is clear that the Buhari-led APC administration is plagued by all-round failure in governance. If indeed it has any record of success in any sector, Mr. President would not be begging Nigerians, even in his home state, Katsina and among his party members, to award him a pass mark.
“It is rather appalling that instead of facing reality, the Buhari Presidency is threatening Nigerians and overheating the polity with allegations of plots to wage a “smear campaign” against President Buhari in unnamed online newspapers.
“Such allegation is only symptomatic of a failed administration that is looking for who to blame for its woes. This is more so as any fair appraisal of the Buhari-led APC will only present a litany of failures and woes
“We however hope that this allegation is not a ploy for a renewed clampdown on the media and dissenting voices, particularly those now arising among well-meaning APC leaders, who are completely disenchanted by the incompetence and corruption inherent in their party and its administration.
“In any case, President Buhari and his APC should know that Nigerians have moved on and cannot be swayed again by false performance claims and unfounded propaganda.”