nPDP Soft Pedal On Alleged Withdrawal Of NASS Members Diplomatic Passports

THE Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn its earlier allegations and condemnation of purported withdrawal of diplomatic passports of leaders and members of the National Assembly, admitting that there is no truth in the said report.

The faction had, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, expressed worries about what it called “the dire implications of the reported directive by the presidency for the withdrawal of the diplomatic passports of the Senate president, David Mark, speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal and other members of the National Assembly.

But in a sudden volte face, the faction, in a counter statement, withdrew the allegations.

“Following the new revelations from both the presidency and the National Assembly, through our national chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, that there is no iota of truth in the report that the presidency has directed the withdrawal of the diplomatic passports of the leadership and members of the National Assembly, as reported in most of the national dailies today (Sunday), we hereby withdraw the release on this subject matter, pending further investigation of the facts.

“Though our release was an attempt to alert the president to the implication if such an unholy move was found to be true, but now that it has been confirmed that there is no such a move, we thank God, as that would have been an unwise policy that will work against the presidency of Dr Jonathan,” the withdrawal statement noted.