Presidential spokesman said the new party was going nowhere.
Presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, has described the new opposition alliance, the All Progressives Alliance, APC as a “mega nonsense, which cannot go anywhere”.
Speaking on a radio program in Kaduna, Mr. Okupe said the new opposition party was not a mega party, but a “mega nonsense”, which would collapse very soon.
“Members of APC are united and have been brought together not because they want to help Nigeria in any form. They have come together because they just want power for personal aggrandizement,” he said.
He also lambasted former FCT Minister, Nasir El-Rufai, for criticizing President Goodluck Jonathan’s call request to the United States and Britain to help Nigeria stop oil theft.
Mr. Okupe, who spoke at the weekend on Liberty Radio, Kaduna, said what government had done was to check oil thieves in Nigerian waters, and if they still escape cautionary measures in the country, and if the US and Britain don’t buy from them, the theft will stop.
“The president did not just wake up one day and say Britain and America should help us. It was just one of the various internal steps that were taken. There were funds given to the Navy to acquire boats, and they are already producing results. It is just like smuggling, you make a law, you empower the Customs to impound goods at the point of entry, and also ban sale of such products in the stores,” he said.
“So, what government has done is it to stop this oil theft at our end and if they escape checks and balances that we put in place, if those people don’t buy from them, then, they will stop. So, why is El-Rufai pretending to be stupid?” Mr. Okupe asked
He also described the former Minister as a liar who makes reckless comments.
“I just told you, it is right that you guys gave a platform to El-Rufai, he is a free man, he is a citizen of Nigeria, but he is not a man that is worthy of any serious comment. He just says whatever he likes.
“It is a pity that you have chosen me to respond to Malam El-Rufai’s statements. El-Rufai is a name that is disgraceful in my mouth, but I will try to respond. El-Rufai is a liar, who went to the extent of writing a book that is full of lies, similes, things that are untrue, half-truths, he will now quote three pages of discussions with people when he did not record them, and these are things that happened six to seven years ago, so, when I say he is a liar, I mean it,” Mr. Okupe said.
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