PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh
The Peoples Democratic Party on
Monday boasted that it was President Goodluck Jonathan’s tactics that
stopped the Boko Haram from overrunning half of the country.
The party also said it would not fight
former President Olusegun Obasanjo because some of the PDP’s
achievements were recorded during his regime.
It said if not for Jonathan’s actions
and dexterity in the fight against insurgency, members of the dreaded
sect would have taken over about half of Nigeria.
As a result of this, the party said the President deserved commendations from Nigerians rather than being vilified.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said this at a press briefing in Abuja.
He said the problem of insecurity in the
North-East should not be attributed to Jonathan, adding that the
President had been trying to contain it.
Metuh said, “The problem that we have in
the North-East to deal with is insurgency; it is not the making of this
government. This government has tried as much as possible to contain
it.
“I must proclaim, every now and then,
Nigerians encourage us by saying that if not for the character, candour
and the personality of the President, these insurgents would have
overrun more than half of Nigeria.
“We would have been under occupation of
terrorists if not for the determination, the style and the character and
personality of the president.”
Explaining how the President had been
working to stop Boko Haram, he said the government had been able to
secure a ceasefire, dialogue with members of the sect and the use of
other methods.
“He has been able to offer a ceasefire,
dialogue and other things to engage them. He has been trying all sorts
of methods and engaging them in serious warfare and Nigerians have noted
that if not for his character, Boko Haram would have overrun half of
Nigeria,” he added.
He said that the Jonathan administration
had done more than other administrations in the history of the country
for the people of the northern region.
Metuh said, “Jonathan’s administration
has been very fair to the North in terms of projects, political
appointments and the establishment of almajiri schools which have improved education in the region.
“The present administration has done a
lot more for the three zones in the North than any of the
administrations before him in the areas of agriculture, education,
roads, railways and many more.
Expressing optimism on the outcome of
the Presidential election, come February 14, Metuh boasted that the PDP
would win convincingly in the six geo-political zones of the country.
He said, “The PDP will win in the
North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-South, South-East and
South-West. The All Progressives Congress will not win in any of the
zones and our victory will be very convincing.”
On the activities of Obasanjo, who is
believed not to be working for the party but the opposition, Metuh said
that the party would continue to appeal to him to support its
candidates.
He said there was no way the party would
fight the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, saying
some of the achievements recorded by the party were made under his
regime.
Metuh said, “Concerning our leader, our
Baba Obasanjo, we have big respect for him. This party gave him the
ticket that brought him to power and brought him back to reckoning.
“Some of our achievements were made
under Obasanjo. We can’t discuss him in the public. We will continue to
urge him to support us. We want his support.”
On the gale of defections in the party,
Metuh said that the party was aware that there were grievances
concerning its primaries. He however urged those that were wronged to
reconsider their position and return to the PDP.
In an emotion-laden voice, Metuh said,
“I hope that we have learnt lessons from these (primaries). We won’t
celebrate those who have defected (to other political parties).”
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