Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization has asked All Progressives Congress (APC) to organize a Presidential television debate at its own terms and conditions, promising that President Goodluck Jonathan, the party’s Presidential candidate would be there to participate in the debate.
In a statement today, the Director of media and publicity for the PDP presidential campaign organization, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said PDP is insisting on the participation of the APC Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in a live television debate with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Fani-Kayode emphasised that PDP is ready to attend any debate, anywhere in the country with the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, even if that debate is organized by the APC’s spokesman Lai Mohammed and the APC itself, as long as it would be televised live.
“The decision of the APC not to participate in the debate organized by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) on grounds of alleged bias is baseless and absurd. The decision of the APC to boycott the debate provides ample evidence of their cowardice and their unrelenting contempt for the Nigerian people.
“The truth is that the electorate would like to see the presidential candidates of all the political parties square up in a television debate to answer questions on their blueprint for governance and national development.
“The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation are interested in our candidate, President Jonathan engaging General Buhari in a robust and lively debate so that both men can speak about issues like corruption, insurgency, the fight against terrorism and the
economy all of which are areas in which Buhari has grounded his unjustifiable and mischievous attacks on our candidate.
“Since the APC are not comfortable with anyone else handling and organising the debate and since they keep alleging bias on the part of any sensible and impartial organizer, we challenge them to organise the debate themselves. As long as the debate is live and they will allow our candidate to speak his mind on all issues, without any interruption and without cutting him short, we assure them that we will attend.  Our candidates-President Jonathan and his Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo will take up the gauntlet and join issues with them anywhere in this country and at anytime as long as the Nigerian people can witness the event live and as long as it is done openly for the world to see.
“We know that they may have a few challenges with the English language; so, if they like they can even conduct the debate in vernacular: we would be prepared to pay for a translator or an interpreter just so that they could understand the proceedings. Whenever they want to organise such a debate and wherever they choose as the venue, we will be there, as long it will be televised live. This is because we believe that under any circumstances and in every situation President Goodluck Jonathan will give Buhari the thrashing of his life in any frank and open discussion about his record in public office.” [myad]

National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh has said that people in the Northern part of Nigeria are just eager to vote en-mass for President Goodluck Jonathan over and above the Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari in the February 14 election.

“Indeed, Nigerians in the north are eager to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan come February 14, 2015. Voters in the region appreciate the direct positive impact of the numerous development projects executed by the Jonathan administration in all sectors of life.

In a statement today, Metuh predicted that President Jonathan will defeat General Buhari in the election, saying that Jonathan is enjoying soaring popularity among the voting population across the country.

According to him, the President would win more than two-third of the total votes cast as well as the required 25 percent in all the states of the federation, adding that President Jonathan will beat Buhari in the north, not only because the PDP controls 12 out of the 19 states of the region, but because the citizens are pleased with the numerous development projects he executed in the region.

Metuh explained that the various projects and appointments in the north have placed President Jonathan ahead of Buhari especially following the fact that the APC presidential candidate never executed any in the region when he was head of state and has so far failed to articulate an acceptable blue-print for development.

“They appreciate the fact that recognizing that agriculture is the mainstay of the northern economy, President Jonathan ensured that out of the 2.7 million direct farm jobs achieved by his administration, over 2 million are in the north.

“They appreciate the fact that President Jonathan established the e-wallet system, which eliminated the corruption in the distribution of fertilizer and other farmputs, making the products directly accessible to millions of farmers in the region thereby boosting their productivity. They appreciate the fact that silos are brimming and food pyramids are returning in the north.

“In education, President Jonathan’s imprint in the north remains indelible. Today, the once relegated Almajiri boys can now go to school following the establishment of the Almajiri System of Education, the first of its kind, with over 150 special schools already built, while others are nearing completion, a noble idea, General Buhari never thought of when he was head of state.

“Also, out of the 14 new universities established by President Jonathan, 9 are located in the northern states thereby ensuring that all states of the region have a federal university. This is in addition to the establishment of new secondary schools and training of teachers for quality education in the region.

“Furthermore our citizens in the north are happy with President Jonathan for his efforts in tackling desertification in the region especially with the establish of more than 80 km of 15–row Green Belt in addition to the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation in Kano and 10 other Northern States.”

Metuh recalled the increased attention to the health need of the area especially the interventions towards polio eradication and treatment of VVF among others.

He said that President Jonathan has repositioned the region for prosperity and that the north now stands to benefit immensely from the revitalization of the railways, especially the rehabilitation of the Minna-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano narrow gauge, the Markurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Ashaka-Maiduguri line and the branch line from Kafanchan to Kaduna, which are expected to increase productivity in the region.

The PDP National publicity secretary said that roads in the region have received serious attention under Jonathan citing the decades-long intractable Kano-Maiduguri highway, the longest stretch in the country, which is now being successfully tackled in addition to the Abuja-Lokoja road, which is now a delight for road travellers. [myad]

Catholic Church under the canopy of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has expressed fear that the way things are going, there may be outbreak of violence that would lead to loss of lives, as a result of which it advised Nigerians to stockpile food items in case shops close for some days, even as it promised to deploy 4,889 of its members as election observers across 23 States of the country in the February general elections.
The Executive Secretary of Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey, at a news briefing today in Abuja expressed he expressed fears of possible outbreak of violence.
According to him, the current electoral campaigns leading to the general elections has already charged the political atmosphere thereby posing dangers and humanitarian emergencies.
“From our discussions with our partners in some parts of the country, the certain towns and cities are already so charged that potentially lives and properties are not safe, depending on the outcome of the elections. It does appear that a predetermined outcome for the elections is demanded by some groups that no matter how free and fair it is, if it does not suit them, they would resort to violence that could lead to loss of lives.”
“As you may know, there are several forms of humanitarian crises already brewing in Nigeria: There is the silent Sahel food crisis affecting the food and nutrition needs of those states in the Sahel region like Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe etc; there is the post-flood humanitarian crisis, with many still to recover their livelihoods even after billions of naira were collected; there is the potential Niger Delta crisis which could erupt anytime, and there is the mother of all humanitarian crises caused by Boko Haram which has led to the greatest displacements and miseries since the civil war.”
Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey said that the Catholic resolved, at a Contingency Planning meeting for possible elections violence attended by JDPC representatives from volatile states, that the Church and Mosque leaders should intensify sensitization of their members to avoid violence whatever the outcome of the elections
The Catholic, he said, also asked Clergymen themselves to avoid being used to incite or being partisan in their sermons and that Clergymen should admonish their members against inciting and abusive language in the social media
Rev. Father Evaristus Bassey said that it was also resolved that traditional leaders should hold meetings with youth leaders on the need for peaceful conduct during and after the elections even as it also called on parents and elderly relatives to caution their wards and warn them not to be used as instruments of violence by politicians.
It urged the citizens to be aware that during voting, there will be a card reader that would match the thump print on the permanent voter card with that of the holder and that it will therefore be useless to collect other people’s voter cards
“Citizens should not rely on the assurances of security agencies alone, as the scale of violence, if it happens, may overwhelm their capacity, and therefore must be extra vigilant
“Citizens must pray against violence. On this note the JDPCs will be holding prayer rallies across five geo-political zones, except for the North East.
In the case of a possible outbreak of Violence “we advise the citizens in volatile places to stock essential commodities in case shops are not open for days. Citizens should by now make arrangements for safe havens in case they have to escape from their homes; and those who can, should move their families from volatile areas, as the right to life is stronger than the right to vote
“After voting, although they could stay back to observe the counting, we advise ordinary citizens in volatile places to go home, and allow politicians to sort themselves out.
“The Catholic Church is deploying 4889 observers in 23 States, these observers will also stay back to observe to the end.
“We advise churches and mosques to set aside some funds to deal with possible humanitarian crises that may arise, to complement government effort which often times is inadequate and therefore unreliable; especially with the experience of the current IDPs situation. After more than four years of a humanitarian crisis caused by Boko Haram we should be more proficient in handling these things but government is still dropping  items and going away. Up till now there are no proper camps.
“Finally, we advise Nigerians to know that politicians are all the same. If APC, everyone will move there and if PDP wins, they will move back to PDP, so it is not worth it destroying property and or especially destroying lives just because one set of politicians have lost elections.” [myad]