Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the African Union’s  naming of President Muhammadu Buhari as its first ever Anti – Corruption Champion as the joke of the year.

In a statement released in Abuja on Monday through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said it was clear that the AU leaders were not abreast of the currrent happenings in Nigeria.

The PDP said the current government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) planned to use the naming as a face – saving stunt for the administration.

Ologbondiyan said: “As we speak, those receiving accolades as champions of anti-corruption have not yet cleared the air on the leaked memo detailing underhand oil contracts to the tune of ₦9 trillion at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources which are under President Buhari’s direct supervision as minister.

“They are yet to offer any explanation on series of reported fraud in the oil sector including allegation of the use of 18 unregistered companies to lift and divert ₦1.1trillion worth of crude oil in the last one year to service the APC interests.

“This is a government which has provided cover for its corrupt officials including former state governors, who were indicted of looting funds belonging to their states to sponsor their presidential election in 2015 as well as cronies openly indicted for other various sharp practices, including padding of the federal budget, secret oil subsidy deals and stealing of funds meant for the fight against insurgency and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons.”