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Tag: Metuh

  • PDP abhors corruption – Metuh

    PDP abhors corruption – Metuh

    The National Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisah Metuh, said the party abhors corruption and will not undermine the present administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

    Metuh, who spoke in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, said the party will not oppose measures by the government in probing those who served under the past administration.

    He described corruption as a crime against humanity, saying that the party would not be a safe haven for corrupt persons.

    He, however, said the party will stoutly defend its members in situations where their rights, liberty and freedom were being trampled upon.

    He said the party retains the best democratic credentials when compared to others and urged members to remain committed to the ideals.

    Metuh pleaded with members of the party in Kogi State to close ranks so that the PDP can come out tops in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

     

  • PDP flays security watch on Dasuki

    PDP flays security watch on Dasuki

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has questioned the rationale behind the security placed by the Federal Government on the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    Sambo, who was on Monday relieved of his duty by President Muhammadu Buhari alongside the Service Chiefs, is being confined to his Abuja residence at 13, John Kadiya close, Asokoro, Abuja.

    At least eight plain clothed operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) were on Friday seen in two pick up operational vans parked inside the expansive compound.

    One of the operatives who was approached by our correspondent for comments declined to speak on the operation, saying “nothing is happening here.”

    The vans and their occupants were still in the premises. It was apparent that Dasuki was still inside the building at about 3pm when our correspondent left the place.

    The PDP has said the security watch placed on the ex- NSA was a breach of his fundamental human rights and the right to personal freedom as guaranteed by the constitution.

    Addressing journalists a few metres away from the building, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, described the siege to Dasuki’s home as unacceptable.

    Metuh demanded explanation from the government on why Dasuki was being put under security watch, warning that the country was sliding towards autocratic tendencies.

    “I read the situation about the invasion of the former NSA’s house and his detention and house arrest. So, I drove to his house as a personal friend to see him and to find out what is happening.

    “Then about seven or eight security operatives came out and they said that I cannot see him because the house is under security watch. And I asked them, security watch in terms of treason or terrorism? And they said they are not in a position to say anything.

    “And why I asked this question is that is he under security watch on account of corruption or any other reason. It’s totally against the constitution of this country because this is a democracy and democratic tenets and principles apply.

    “The fact is that we deserve basic freedom, liberty and free movement associated with democracy. The truth is that Nigerians are getting scared. They voted for the President and he was duly elected.

    “And now he’s the father of the nation, he’s the father of everyone. He’s not serving any other interest. But there are certain activities by some of his aides and people around him, it’s like they are taking us back to the military era where we were coming from,” the PDP spokesman said.

  • PDP vows to reject elections conducted by new INEC boss

    PDP vows to reject elections conducted by new INEC boss

    Peoples Democratic Party has vowed to reject any election conducted under the watch of the acting chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari.

    The party has also urged the international community to call President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress “to order” over what it described as draconian and authoritarian tendencies of the government.

    The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated this on Thursday when he paid a courtesy visit to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Abuja.

    The PDP is making the move ahead of this weekend’s President Buhari’s visit to the United States to confer with President Barack Obama on ways to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency and corruption.

    He complained to the NDI and the IRI that the INEC chief is “a daughter” to President Buhari and as such would not be fair in the discharge of her responsibility as the nation’s electoral umpire.

    Metuh said, “We have INEC and the idea is that people heading it should be above board. But the present ruling party has appointed the daughter of the President to head the position. There is nowhere in the world where such has happened, a person who has a relationship with the President.

    “I am drawing the attention of the IRI to this anomaly. Buhari has appointed his daughter as INEC chief, we believe there will not be fairness.

    “It will be very difficult to accept result of any election conducted by Amina Zakari. It will be difficult for PDP to accept results of elections if we lose under Zakari.”

    The PDP spokesman also decried Buhari’s style of leadership, accusing him of sidelining governors of the opposition on national issues. He maintained that under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, governors from the opposition parties were picked to travel with government team.

    Metuh also accused Buhari of working hard to silence the opposition through harassment and intimidation.

    He tabled the issue of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who he said was elected by his colleagues at the National Assembly, but who the Presidency was using the security apparatus to intimidate.

    “I want to alert the international community on these issues and if they are not handled very well, could truncate our democracy. We have witnessed a remarkable change in the past few days.

    “We encourage freedom and in just two months in power, we have witnessed organised witch hunt by the leadership of the APC in trying to muscle our people,” he complained.

    Responding, the NDI Resident Country Director, Jasper Veen, noted that anywhere in the world, the most important area to tackle is the political party itself.

    Veen, however, said the way Nigeria political parties recruit people for key positions was a reflection of the political system itself.

    He urged internal democracy in the political parties, noting that it is not easy to be in the opposition.

  • PDP takes credit for bailout fund

    PDP takes credit for bailout fund

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed credit for the N804 billion bailout fund ordered to be released to distressed states’ governments by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said a significant amount of the bailout came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account handed over to the Buhari administration by the last PDP-led government.

    “This development is in clear contradiction to the earlier impression given by President Buhari to Nigerians and the international community that they should not expect much from his administration in its first 100 days because according him, upon assumption of office, he met a virtually empty treasury.

    “We want to believe that given the President’s release of such huge amount, he may have realized that he was earlier misdirected on the actual financial state of the nation at the time he took over. In this regard, we expect the President, as a respected statesman to do the needful to correct that erroneous impression.

    “Furthermore, we expect President Buhari’s APC administration as direct beneficiary of this savings initiated by past PDP administrations to appreciate the strategic importance of always saving for rainy days and as such guarantee prudent and transparent management of the nation’s resources now under its care,” the party said.

    The party charged the APC as a party in government to put its house in order, desist from what it termed injecting confusion and distracting the President from settling down to form a government and face the enormous challenges of governance, especially the implementation of his long list of campaign promises to Nigerians.

     

     

  • PDP to Buhari: Stop offering excuses

    PDP to Buhari: Stop offering excuses

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as “evasive, diversionary and preemptive,” the present government’s “pile up of excuses” for possible failure in delivering on its campaign promises to Nigerians.

    The party was reacting to revelations by President Muhammadu Buhari that the last PDP led administration left an empty treasury, occasioned by unbridled corruption, impunity and mismanagement of public resources.

    But in a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were privy to the nation’s dwindling economy.

    According to the PDP, the economic crisis was triggered by global economic downturn occasioned by fall in international oil prices, even before the start of the last electioneering campaigns.

    The party accused Buhari and the APC of choosing to deceive Nigerians with bogus promises, only to now resort to excuses after using the promises to secure power at the centre.

    The PDP said it noted with dismay, President Buhari’s statement on Monday that Nigerians should not expect much from his first 100 days in office over claims that he met virtually an empty treasury and huge debts.

    The statement said such claims only underlined the fact that the present administration was really not equipped to face the challenges of governance.

    The PDP continued: “While we restate our resolve to engage only in credible and issue based opposition, we want the President and the APC to note that their plea for patience from Nigerians does not arise, because ab-initio, there has not been any indication that they are actually serious and determined to deliver on their campaign promises upon which they rode to power.

    “Of course Nigerians are willing to support and cooperate with the President, but we are worried that the pictures emerging from his presidency and his party do not in any way inspire hope in the citizenry, especially as they have continued to show that theirs is ostensibly a matter of obtaining power by false pretenses.

    “President Buhari and the APC must know that Nigerians did not give them the mandate to engage in frivolous excuses and pleas but to hit the ground running with solutions and quick fixes they promised during the campaigns.

    “We ask, is President Buhari’s statement an admission of poor knowledge of national and international economic affairs or does it underscore the lack of capacity and skills by the administration to effectively harness and galvanize resources and potential inherent in Nigeria which has already been nurtured as Africa’s largest economy and one of the fasted growing in the world.

    “Even if Nigerians decide to wait endlessly, we wonder how much the President can achieve amidst the flip-flops from his presidency and cacophony of interests from his party leaders struggling to enlarge their selfish political and economic frontiers.

    “How can one reconcile President Buhari’s statement with the recent ridiculous and misleading claim by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that this administration has achieved in three weeks what the immediate past administration did not achieve in five years?

    “Since after their electoral victory, the APC and the President have continued to expose their lack of commitment towards their campaign promises.”

     

  • APC’s claims, mockery of governance – PDP

    APC’s claims, mockery of governance – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as mockery of governance and sheer propaganda claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency that the administration has recorded numerous achievements within its short existence.

    Saying such achievements are imaginary and celebrations premature, the PDP said such claims could set up President Muhammadu Buhari for national and international ridicule.

    In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said it was embarrassing that the APC and aides of President Buhari decided to invade the minds of Nigerians with propaganda and tissues of lies instead of assisting the President who was inaugurated three weeks ago to settle down, form a government and deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.

    The statement said, “The nation and democrats world over were thoroughly embarrassed by the frivolous list of so-called achievements which has further exposed APC’s lack of capacity and direction as well as the inability to draw a line between propaganda by an opposition party and disseminating of credible information as a party in government.

    “How can a serious government start shouting achievements and make bogus claims on the fight against terrorism when the effort is apparently losing steam as insurgents who had already been pushed to the verge of surrender in the Sambisa forest by the Goodluck Jonathan administration are now surging back into the country under the APC-led government?

    “How can a serious government shout achievement based on pledges by foreign interests, a dangerous slide towards neo-colonialism, instead of settling down to galvanize bequeathed resources and potentials that have already placed our great country as one of the fastest emerging economic and political powers in the world?

    “How can a serious government shout achievement and attempt to explain away the untidy fact that after three weeks, it has not been able to organise itself even to take basic steps of conventional appointments such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief of Staff to the President and advisers in key sectors of the economy.

    “We ask, is the APC celebrating the fact that due to its naivety and delays, key sectors of our nation’s economy are dangerously drifting with a perilous crippling of foreign and domestic investments, including activities in the money and capital market sectors?

    “Our promise has been to engage in credible opposition and provide alternatives and options to the policies and programmes of the APC-led Federal Government in the general interest of the nation.

    “But alas, in less than one month, even with the stability bequeathed by the Jonathan administration, we have only witnessed inexcusable confusion and administrative naivety in the handling of important issues as seen in their poor outing at the inauguration of the National Assembly, unnecessary delays in the setting up of structure for the executive arm and the worrisome inability to urgently provide a national economic direction, among others.

    “This is a party and government that promised Nigerians that they will hit the ground running once elected into office but what we have seen so far is a government and party that hit the ground and remained on the same spot for sheer inexperience and unpreparedness for governance.”

  • We have no candidate for Senate Presidency – PDP

    We have no candidate for Senate Presidency – PDP

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday said the party has no candidate for the position of Senate President or Deputy Senate President.

    Rising from its weekly National Working Committee (NWC) meeting at its national secretariat, the party denied alleged plots to take the position from the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has a majority of the members.

    Addressing reporters shortly after the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said, “We have decided to inform Nigerians that the PDP has no candidate for the position of Senate President or Deputy Senate President.”

    He said the senators are mature and experienced enough to conduct their affairs, adding that they are capable of taking decisions on their own without interference from the party.

    “We have decided not to dabble into leadership selection process in the National Assembly because we have learnt our lessons from past experiences,” Metuh stated.

    He said the meeting of PDP senators and senators-elect held with the leadership of the party in Port Harcourt on Monday did not discuss the election of Senate President and the deputy.

    According to him, what is paramount in the agenda of the PDP is how to organise itself and strategise for the role of credible opposition and offering alternative policy suggestions.

    The party expressed fears that the APC might influence decisions in ongoing election cases at the various tribunals.

  • Osinbajo’s account of government’s debt misleading – PDP

    Osinbajo’s account of government’s debt misleading – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, of misleading the public regarding the actual debt owed by the Federal Government.

    A statement issued on Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said Osinbajo’s action was an attempt by the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) to discredit the PDP led Federal Government.

    The statement said the Vice President-elect failed to be “bold and honest enough” to also inform the nation that the bulk of the $63.7 billion total debt was incurred by APC states.

    The party said: “It is indeed unfortunate that the Vice President-elect who has the details of the debt stock chose to be economical with the truth and to mislead Nigerians just to discredit the current PDP-led administration and rationalize APC’s unpreparedness for governance.

    “Prof. Osinbajo is aware that the $63.7 billion is made up of external and domestic debts belonging not only to the federal government but to federal and state governments and accumulating since the 1960s, yet he deliberately misrepresented the facts to give the unsuspecting public the impression that the amount was exclusively incurred by the current federal government.

    “Perhaps the Vice President-elect avoided the details so as not to expose the fact that the APC controlled Lagos State has both the highest external debt stock of $1,169, billion as well as the highest domestic debt stock of N278, 867 billion.

    “Furthermore we find it unacceptable and unstatesmanly for the Vice President-elect to attempt to mislead Nigerians into believing that the total federal debt component was accumulated under the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration, when it is on record that a greater chunk of the amount was inherited.”

    According to the PDP, part of the contemporary borrowing from the domestic bond market was occasioned by the global economic and financial crisis, as well as the downturn in crude oil revenue, which adversely affected other economies of the world.

    Berating the in-coming administration for dwelling on excuses and reneging on campaign promises, the PDP wondered if the APC and the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, did not know about the economic challenges caused by the dwindling oil revenues before making their bogus promises to Nigerians.

    The statement added: “The APC must fulfill its promises for which Nigerians voted for them. Were they not aware of the debt stock and the dwindling oil revenues before making their huge promises to the people? Were the promises only intended as carrots to mislead the people and deceitfully win their votes after which they are dumped?”

  • ‎ PDP shuts down social media handles over hacking

    ‎ PDP shuts down social media handles over hacking

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shut down its official social media handles, saying they have been hacked into by internet scammers.

    A statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in the course of the 2015 campaigns, personal positions and opinions of party members were generally reported in many instances by the media as official positions of the PDP.

    The statement said: “We have also noted that some of our new media handles, our facebook and twitter accounts have been hacked resulting in series of unauthorised releases, with the latest being Sunday’s post quoting our party as accepting responsibility for failure in the last 16 years, a statement which could not have come from the PDP that has a robust record of achievements in all sectors of our national life within the period.

    “However, now that the campaigns are over, we wish to notify the general public, especially the media that henceforth only statements, utterances and positions of the National Chairman and the National Publicity Secretary or any other national officer of the party authorised by the National Working Committee shall be regarded and reported as the official position of our great party in line with the relevant provisions of the PDP constitution.

    “For purposes of clarity, this directive does not in any way affect the inalienable constitutionally guaranteed rights of our members as free citizens to hold and air opinions, but such personal opinions must not in any way be rendered or reported as the official position of the PDP.

    “Consequently, media houses, particularly the electronic media and the civil society should note that only authorised persons should be invited to speak or stand in for the PDP for interviews, debates, talk shows or any other media appearance whatsoever.

    “Furthermore, to halt the embarrassing trend in our social media handles, the party has decided to decommission our official twitter and facebook accounts for now, to pave way for proper overhauling of the system.

    “The foregoing is pursuant to our determination to rebuild and reposition our great party, instill discipline in our fold, check unnecessary divergences and put the PDP on a strong footing to regain power in 2019.

    “Additionally, in the new spirit of rebuilding and repositioning, the national leadership charges all members who have genuine grievances to channel such through the appropriate organs of the PDP for redress, using the internal conflict resolution mechanisms that abound in our party.

    “Finally, we urge the media to always crosscheck with the relevant officials of our party on official matters before going to press.”

  • PDP‘ll not change identity, says Metuh

    PDP‘ll not change identity, says Metuh

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it is not contemplating a change of identity despite losing control of the Federal Government and some states in the last general elections.

    It added that the vision of its founding fathers remained timeless in building a nation of collective wish and aspirations of all citizens.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who said this in a statement yesterday, insisted that the PDP “is still the truly national political party with strength and spread enough to regain pre-eminence”.

    Metuh noted that having been “the guardian of Nigerian democracy for 16 years”, the PDP “will not in the circumstance of ephemeral loss of power change its identity or its time-honoured characteristic values”.

    The party said though it is resolutely committed to its present structures, it would not close its doors to other political parties wishing to be assimilated into its fold as the best vehicle for the fulfillment of political aspirations of all citizens, regardless of tribe and religion.

    The statement said: “We have a name, tradition and values. Sixteen fruitful years as the guardian of Nigerian democracy cannot be nullified by the reason of temporary setback. We shall rise beyond all and regain our rhythm. Our colour remains green, white and red and power still belongs to the people. And to assert that we are proud of the successes of our successive leaders in taking Nigeria to its present height is an understatement, which the passage of the next four years under the APC will certainly prove.”

     It added that the fact that the PDP was going into opposition would not mitigate its ability as the flagship of democracy, adding that it “will soar higher in proving credible alternative as a constructive opposition”.

    The statement also reads: “We have no doubt lifted the banner of democracy very high and only wish that the APC (All Progressives Congress) will move beyond excuses when it takes over in weeks’ time to reconcile mouthful promises with the reality of fulfillment. We have not only laid a solid foundation, we have built to a height that no denial can wish away.

    “We therefore call on all our members to ensure that they are not in any way distracted, but remain focused as the unity, cohesion and regenerative capacity of the PDP is very much intact, election loss notwithstanding.”

    Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has claimed that the PDP was still soliciting the return of Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

    Aliyu said this at the inauguration of 108 housing units built by the Kano State government in collaboration with Urban Shelters Limited in Abuja.

    In his remarks at the occasion, the governor said he would work to avoid a “clash” with Kwankwanso in trying to gain the PDP’s presidential ticket.

    He added that many PDP faithful have confided in him that they would only join the APC if Kwankwaso is contesting for president in the 2019 elections.

    Aliyu said: “Engineer Kwankwaso, I needed to be here because you have proven to be an excellent person and a politician. We have come a long way, except that after four years, you lost your seat and you waited eight years, you were not bitter and you did not give up. That is a sign of those who have faith in God.

    “You have returned and within the four years, you have done what many of those who were governors in Kano could not have done. You are an active member of Northern Governors Forum.

    “You are a shadow chairman of the G7 Governors and when I saw the newspapers today, I was very happy that you are so loved that PDP is still soliciting for your return. But above that, I had people who told me directly that they would never go to APC unless Kwankwaso is running for the presidency of Nigeria in 2019. And so, don’t worry about me, I will try to make sure we do not clash.”

    Inaugurating the estate, Kwankwaso described the Evergreen Residences as a fully integrated real estate development project undertaken by Urban Shelter Limited in collaboration with the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.

    According to him, the project consists of 108 housing units of five and four bedrooms terraces and three-bedroom blocks of apartments.

    He attributed the high rate of housing deficit in the country to increasing population growth and lack of purposeful leadership.

    Other dignitaries at the event were the state Deputy Governor and Governor-elect, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar represented by former Minister of Sports, Sani Ndanusa, Senator Kabiru Gaya and Emir of Minna Alhaji Umar Farouk.

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, was represented by the FCT Director of Mass Housing, Umar Jibril.