Olusegun Emmanuel, Abuja.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied allegations by opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), that it had induced federal lawmakers with millions of dollar for them to defect to the ruling party, dismissing it as false alarm.
The party however, said it was a serious allegation that cast aspersion on the integrity of National Assembly, urging its members to demand apology and retraction from the opposition party.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, the party said: “The truth is that the APC has reached its peak. Diminishing returns has set in and the party can only go down further. It is a clear sign that
it has exhausted all its strategies and now seeks to cover its premature
boast of majority in the National Assembly.”
Full text of the PDP Statement:
FEBRUARY, 12, 2014
PRESS STATEMENT
Defections: APC In Diminishing Returns – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed as false alarm, the
statement by the All Progressive Congress (APC) that federal lawmakers
were being induced with millions of dollars to defect to the PDP.
Whilst we ordinarily should not dignify this sinking party, notorious
for lies, deceit and propaganda with a reply, we are compelled to do so
because their action is a direct attack on the basic fabric of our
democracy.
All well meaning Nigerians are indeed worried by the statements and
actions of the APC which are clearly aimed at destroying our democracy
and plunging the nation into chaos. In alleging that lawmakers were
being financially induced, the APC seeks to cast doubt in the minds of
Nigerians regarding the integrity of duly elected persons, politicians
and the entire democratic institution.
Though this is a preposterous and cheap thesis by the APC to excuse and
explain away the collapsing fickle fraud upon which its membership is
built, it is nonetheless a vicious attack on the citadel of democracy
and we call on the leadership and members of the National Assembly not
to view the allegation as mere political statement. We urge the National
Assembly to insist that the APC withdraws the allegation and apologize
to the legislature and the entire nation.
The truth is that the APC has reached its peak. Diminishing returns has
set in and the party can only go down further. It is a clear sign that
it has exhausted all its strategies and now seeks to cover its premature
boast of majority in the National Assembly.
The APC celebrated too early. They have played all their cards and
displayed all their tactics well ahead of the contest. Theirs is a case
of engaging in a marathon race as a sprint; a football team celebrating
its mere appearance in the pitch far before the beginning of a match.
Now, they are weary and tired while the contest is yet to begin.
At a point, in the mind of some sections of the public, the PDP got to
its lowest level, but we remained focused. Despite the defections of
lawmakers from our fold, the PDP never assaulted their integrity.
There is no doubting the fact that the PDP under its new National
Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu is reaching out to all its members
including those that defected in a reconciliation drive that is already
yielding dividends.
We are not surprised about the flurry of defections and return to our
fold. The PDP remains the only a national party while the APC is quasi
national. The PDP is owned equally by all its members irrespective of
race and religion, the APC is owned by a tiny clique of civilian and
civil-clothed dictators whose major agenda is to capture power for
selfish ends and turn Nigeria to either old Sudan or Somalia.
The PDP is the only political party with a consistent structure, vision
and achievements in the transformation of Nigeria since 1998, the APC is
a cacophonous amalgam of tribal and religious irredentists with no known
vision or achievements in its earlier metamorphosis.
We are expecting more defections to the PDP. We have consistently told
Nigerians that the PDP would emerge from from its challenges a stronger
party and this is what we are witnessing.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
