PDP Vs ATIKU: Our party has done well

News By Daily Independent


Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the ruling PDP was the mastermind of the problems bedevilling the country.


The ruling party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Sunday said “it is wrong for anyone, any group or any opposition political party to pour vituperations and heap blames on the PDP over the state of the nation”. Metuh insisted that the PDP has actually done well for the nation as it has touched on all areas of national development and should, therefore, be praised rather than condemned.


The ruling party specifically took exception to the condemnation heaped on it by Atiku, whom, it is said, should rather be grateful to it (PDP) for giving him the opportunity to become the nation’s number two citizen during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The party, however, said it remained unperturbed by the negative comments being made about it by the opposition.


“Whilst the PDP recognises the inalienable right of citizens to hold opinions and identify with political platforms of their choice, we indeed find it very difficult to understand this type of bitterness towards the party even from persons such as the former Vice President who hugely benefitted from the PDP.


“However, as the sole custodian of the sacred mandate of over 160 million Nigerians, the PDP will continue to maintain the high moral ground of decency and shall not in any way cheapen this sacred mandate by joining in political mudslinging,” Metuh said. He assured that the party is in full support of the activities of President Goodluck Jonathan administration which, he said, has performed creditably.


“The people are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan and his developmental policies and for emphasis, we wish to draw the attention of the former Vice President and the APC warlords to the achievements of the PDP-led administration.


“It is common knowledge that the private sector has been immensely successful in the last two years under the PDP-led administration owing to the continued implementation of our manifesto and policies, including the continuation of the PDP ideology of transfer of wealth from public institutions to the private sector.


“This is the hallmark of the PDP-led Federal Government wherein hardworking private individuals are now thriving in manufacturing, trade, commerce and other critical sectors of the economy with business names such as the Dangotes, the Innosons, the AITs, the Channels as well as several others in the banking, telecoms, food processing, hospitality, transport, construction, oil and gas, estate businesses recording huge successes.


“It is on record that under this administration, more small and medium businesses have sprang up across the country in the last two years.


“More print and electronic media houses have been opened, more companies are now involved in various transport businesses, more reputable international eateries and restaurants in the world have opened in Nigeria, more hotels, schools, hospitals, farms and business services companies have been opened; more Nigerians have bought vehicles and built houses, our roads are better, the railway is back in operation, and there is better access to medical care, all to the credit of the economic policies of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan-led PDP government,” Metuh added.


He said the New Automobile Industry Policy has ushered in an economic revolution in the manufacturing sector with direct foreign investments from leading vehicle manufacturers, including Nissan and Stallion Group which have started establishing auto plants in Nigeria in addition to the revitalisation of Peugeot Nigeria and commencement of vehicle production by Innoson Group.


“The revolution in the manufacturing sector will not only generate massive employment for our people but guarantee technology transfer, reduction in costs, increase in ancillary investment opportunities and a boost in medium and small scale enterprises,” the statement added.