The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately recover the over N28 billion meant for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the north-east of Nigeria which was allegedly stolen by members of a cabal in the presidency and certain interests in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Sunday, the PDP said the presidency was being insincere and unfair to the IDPs by shielding those who have been pilfering billions of naira donated for the well-being of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The party said the Federal Government cannot claim to be unaware of reported sharp practices involved in the management of billions of naira in the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE) since the issue came to public notice.

“Indeed the presidency cannot in any way imaginable, claim not to be aware of reports that sometime in August 2017, a cabinet minister and a high ranking presidency official were alleged to have diverted ₦18 billion from the ₦48 billion approved by the National Assembly for the millions of IDPs and rebuilding of six north-east states ravaged by insurgency in the 2017 budget.

“The APC and the Buhari presidency cannot claim to be unaware of the damning report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a public document which detailed how officials were using bulk of the resources meant for the IDPs on contracts that were found to have immensely benefitted officials of the APC Government including the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

“The Buhari Presidency and the APC cannot also claim to be unaware of the motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how persons known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered ₦1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying items to IDPs,” the statement said.

It added that despite all the open allegations, the Presidency has refused to initiate moves or take any steps towards initiating an open probe into the alleged involvement of government officials, not to talk about recovering the funds.

While accusing the APC government of corruption and concealment of sleaze, the statement said the PDP stands in solidarity with deprived victims against these acts of inhumanity and called upon all Nigerians and the international community to join hands to ensure that the funds were recovered from the APC interests and returned to the IDPs.