PDP accuses ACN of wasting SURE-P fund

THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-controlled states of frittering away their share of proceeds from the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).The accusation came as the ACN had recently alleged that the PDP had turned the SURE-P funds into a political war crest in preparation for the 2015 general election.But in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Monday, the party challenged the ACN to show Nigerians what programmes they have implemented with their own shares of the saved fuel subsidy funds.The ruling party, which lambasted the ACN for trying to politicize the SURE-P initiative of the PDP-led Federal Government, also accused the opposition states of frittering away their own shares of the funds instead of using such for the benefit of the people. The party said the leaders of the ACN, “who are used to syphoning public funds” were clearly frustrated that the PDP SURE-P initiative is yielding results and that Nigerians across the board were benefitting from it.”It added: “The attention of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to malicious and baseless media reports by the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that the Subsidy Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) fund is being shared to PDP members.“To say the least, we found it nauseating that the opposition would want to play politics  with everything including a programme meant for the benefit of all Nigerians. We are aware that this is part of a grand plot by the ACN to stir up animosity among peace loving Nigerians and prevent them from benefitting from the programme.“The SURE-P initiative is a programme of the PDP-led Federal Government for the benefit all Nigerians. PDP members are Nigerians and we will be happy if they were truly patronized instead of the money going to the pocket of an individual as obtainable in the camp of the ACN where funds meant for the people are diverted to the pocket of a godfather. “We challenge the opposition to come out and tell Nigerians what programmes they have in their respective states from their own shares of the saved fuel subsidy fund. It is clear that by every indication they have none, as the funds would have since been diverted to the pocket of their godfather.“The leaders of the opposition parties are used to frittering away funds meant for the people. They are not happy that Nigerians are benefitting from the SURE-P and are  hell bent on using any means to discredit the programme and deny the people the benefits.”