In recent times, there has been a series of personal attacks sponsored in a section of the media by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in a spirited plot to discredit officials of the federal government and those of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The overall Machiavellian purpose of these attacks is very clear; to bring respected officials of the federal government and the PDP to public odium. Typical of a desperate opposition, as the 2015 general elections approach, the APC leaders have scaled up these attacks. In the last couple of months, they have engaged an army of heavily paid consultants masquerading as columnists and writers in local and foreign media to sustain this devious enterprise by employing their stock-in-trade of lies, insults and blackmails. This is in addition to the unleashing of APC thugs in the social media who use multiple accounts with pseudonyms to attack PDP, its people-oriented programmes and post lies and insults against President Goodluck Jonathan. Of particular note is the endless personal attack on the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. In the last few months, the APC has concentrated its onslaught against the PDP spokesperson and the reason is not far-fetched. Since his emergence as PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh has become for members of the opposition party, a thorn in the flesh for matching their propaganda machinery by effectively projecting the positive image of the PDP while exposing the many inherent negatives of the APC. The APC is distraught because Metuh has been able to adequately communicate the unique selling points of the PDP and the major difference between its content and character and those of the APC. They are bitter because their party has been appropriately and correctly profiled by Metuh as an anti-Nigeria platform which does not have the interest of the people at heart. While effectively projecting the PDP as a national and democratic party, committed to the overall national interest without regard to ethnic and religious considerations, Metuh has further succeeded in presenting the true picture of the APC as a sectional and undemocratic party, completely lacking in ideology, promoting division among Nigerians; a party of frustrated and corrupt dictators seeking a platform to actualize their ethnic, religious and pecuniary agenda. He succeeded in exposing the hidden links between the utterances of the APC and the insecurity that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent citizens. The APC leaders have been having sleepless nights because Metuh not only stripped their party of its fake messianic robe, making a public display of its true identity as a party on a mission to destroy Nigeria, but also showed that it is no alternative to the PDP, a message which has formed a strong foundation for informed electoral choices for 2015 general elections based not on propaganda but on reason and facts as was the case in the June 21 Ekiti state governorship election. It is against this backdrop that the PDP National Publicity Secretary became a critical assignment for the APC. He must be stopped. Having failed to silence him through a series of threats and litigations, the APC leaders have now resorted to a well-funded campaign of calumny in an attempt to discredit and cow him to silence so as to effectively deny the PDP a credible voice to project its image, defend its policies and programmes and highlight the performances of its elected officials. Characteristically, Metuh has maintained his high moral ground of decency and equanimity in the face of the attacks by APC leaders. He has refused to join issues with them or to allow himself to be distracted. However, it is very important to place on record that there is no statement by Metuh on APC or its leaders that has not been based on facts. This explains the reason APC leaders and their paid writers have continued to indulge in stretching their imagination but always end up with insults and threats. The questions are: is the APC not a private estate of few politicians who have instituted a reign of impunity and brazen dictatorship within its fold? Are APC leaders not running their party like a rebel group? Are they not engaged in actions and utterances that promote division and violence in the country? Have they not been deliberately dishing out lies and fabrications in their statements to incite Nigerians and discredit the PDP led-administration? Since its registration on July 13, 2013, the APC has never purposefully and constructively engaged and challenged the PDP on issues. Instead, in its 15 months of existence, it has issued hundreds of press statements all of which have been devoted to attacking government officials and those of the PDP as subterfuge to cover their heinous plot against the nation. APC leaders have continued to promote violence through their utterances as a means to achieve political control. The statement by their National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that his party will set up a parallel government should it lose in the 2015 presidential election (bear in mind that APC’s understanding of ‘rigging’ is where they lose) not only betrays their inner agenda but also confirms Metuh’s position that the APC is promoting a Janjaweed ideology. This is in addition to inflammatory statements by other APC leaders, including its Deputy National Secretary, Nasir El-Rufai, who was widely reported to have declared that the 2015 elections will be bloody and for which he was questioned by the Department of Security Services. Metuh has been able to prove that we have an opposition party which seeks to weaken critical institutions of government, make them vulnerable and set the stage for the materialization of their ignoble plans. The publishing of negative advertorials and articles in local and foreign media by the APC; and the sponsoring of pockets of anti-government protests across the country confirm his position. Nigerians may recall the sustained vitriolic attacks and campaign of calumny against the legislature at the national and state levels with the APC issuing statements labeling them as corrupt and falsely accusing them of receiving millions of dollars to do PDP’s bidding. A typical example of the lies that constantly lace APC statement was its news release of June 19, 2014 where it averred that a plane carrying Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend its rally in Ekiti was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano on that day and had no plans to travel to Ekiti state. Having been completely exposed, APC leaders are very bitter with Metuh. They are now desperate and want to use every means including circulating negative publications to stop him. Of particular reference is a publication in a section of the media by Sunday Dare, the Special Assistant to the former Governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. A similar article written by one Tobi Idaomi appeared in some online news sites. This is in addition to attacks by paid bloggers and APC social media thugs. Typical of the APC, the Dare article, meant to be a response to the well-articulated PDP statement wherein it urged Nigerians to quit the APC because of its anti-democratic stance and the dictatorial tendencies of its leaders, left the issues and dwelt on insults. Tinubu and his co-travelers in APC must be extremely bitter because Metuh’s well-researched statement issued on Saturday, September 6, 2014 completely exposed their despotic tendencies. Instead of responding to the issues raised in the PDP statement, Tinubu’s handlers went wild with abuses further confirming Metuh’s position that the APC is a party of intolerant politicians. The questions Nigerians must ask are: why has Tinubu refused to answer Metuh’s query regarding how he emerged the leader of APC? Was he elected? Does this not show the APC as an undemocratic party “where despots crown themselves national leaders without recourse to appropriate democratic process?” Tinubu should answer Metuh on why he barred a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi from contesting the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State on APC platform. He should explain the role he played in stopping former Senate Minority Leader, Olorunnimbe Mamora, from re-contesting the Senate seat in 2011. Yes. Tinubu should reply Metuh. Did he not impose his son in-law, Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo as a member representing Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives? Did he not impose his sister in-law, Lola Fibisola Akande as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to replace his late mother, Abibatu Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men? These and many more were issues raised in the PDP statement which Tinubu’s media office failed to address. In fact, they will be rendering better service to their master by helping him provide answers to Nigerians on the widely reported allegations of monumental fraud and massive looting of Lagos state’s resources leveled against him. In any case, the APC must understand that no amount of sponsored media attacks, blackmails, insults and threats will subdue the resolve to stand for the truth, which Olisa Metuh now personify in the current political scenario. Indeed, nothing will deter him from continuing to be of service to our dear fatherland by exposing the evil machinations of the APC until they heed calls by well-meaning Nigerians to learn to conduct themselves in a manner expected of responsible citizens and stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
Ihediwa is Special Assistant to PDP National Publicity Secretary.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has openly endorsed the immediate past Nigeria minister of information, Labaran Maku for the governorship of Nasarawa state.
President of NUJ, Alhaji Mohammed Garba sent the message of endorsement to a dinner organised today at the National Press Centre, Abuja, in honour of the minister. The message was delivered by the national secretary of the union, Usman Lema.
The NUJ said that Maku has so far established himself as a trustworthy and honest administrator. It said that Maku as a journalists had adequately and well represented the profession at a higher level of government and is sure that he would do better as governor. “Labaran Maku is an effective and efficient administrator with a nack for accountability and he is open minded.” The NUJ asked the people of Nasarawa state to embrace Maku with all the support he needs to win the 2015 election. Meanwhile, Maku has admitted that his desire to contest the governorship of Nasarawa state is an adventure which he is not expect to win with ease. At the dinner, the spokesman of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General Chris Olukolade expressed appreciation to Maku for the support he gave to the armed forces in the fight against Boko Haram.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III was in Asaba, capital of Delta state today to attend the 60th birthday of the governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III chaired a lecture on ‘Anger Management’ that was organised for the birthday. Before the lecture, the Sultan visited the governor during which time Sultan commended the Governor for promoting inter-ethnic and religious harmony in the country. He described governor Uduaghan as a trail-blazer in engaging in actions that unite Nigerians despite their ethnic and religious persuasions. “I am in Asaba to take part in the discussion on issues affecting our nation. We should thank the governor for thinking in that direction. We should continue to talk. If we want the country to be great, we should close ranks. “To find solution to Nigeria’s problem, we must come together and talk to one another. The more we talk to one another, the more we understand one another. I believe strongly in the application of dialogue to settling all issues. “We must continue to look at ourselves as one and as the two major religions in the country preach, we must love one another.” He observed that peaceful co-existence and harmony could only be achieved by Nigerians in engaging themselves in frank dialogue rather than relying on persons that do not understand the cultural, religious and ethnic colouration of the country. “We must come together to fight our common enemy because disease does not know religion or tribe just like poverty. “We are Nigerians by virtue of God’s creation, we must continue to look at ourselves as brothers, love one another as we are created by one God despite our different tribes and religion.” Governor Uduaghan thanked the Sultan for coming to Delta State for the lecture and described the Sultan as a bridge builder who believed in the unity of Nigeria. “Since you assumed the throne of your forefathers as the Sultan, you have been one of the greatest Ambassadors of peace in Nigeria, you have moved across this country and beyond preaching peace. “I know that God will reward your efforts to give us peace in Nigeria and I want to assure you that Delta State will continue to partner with you in bringing peace to Nigeria.” the Governor said that his administration would continue to engage in actions that would unite Nigerians.
Chairman of River state APC, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya
All Progress Congress (APC) in Rivers state has asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to bow to the pressure being mounted on him by selfish groups and individuals to contest the 2015 presidential election because he will fail. In a statement today, Chairman of the party in the state, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya predicted that Jonathan will lose if he allows himself to be deceived into seeking re-election next year. “The handwriting is already on the wall for President Jonathan in view of the calibre of leaders and unprecedented masses that attended the historic declaration of General Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2015 presidential election. It has therefore become imperative for President Jonathan to start writing his handover notes as his game is up. “It is now clear why President Jonathan is scared and reluctant in accepting the call to contest the 2015 general election as evident in his recent statement: ‘In deciding on an appropriate response to such calls, I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda.’ “We must commend him for this wise stand as he knows that his contesting will not be in the greatest interest of national harmony. He must, therefore, perish the thought if he really loves Nigeria and wishes to promote the greatest interest of national harmony.” The chairman made it clear that if the President succumbs to the pressure of haters of Nigeria to contest the 2015 general election, he should prepare to be the first sitting President to lose a general election since there is no basis whatsoever for him to win any election again. “Today, Nigeria has never had it so bad as the present leadership under Jonathan has inflicted unimaginable suffering on Nigerians.” Dr. Ikanya noted that apart from the imminent failure awaiting him at the polls, the President’s participation in the 2015 election would be totally immoral since he is not qualified to run, as he is presently enjoying a second term in office. “The Constitution of our country makes it clear that no one can enjoy three consecutive tenures as President and Jonathan is bound by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution,” Ikanya declared. He expressed happiness over the high quality of tested and trusted leaders who have indicated interest to fly the flag of APC in its rescue mission. “PDP’s reign these past fifteen years has brought shame and hardship to our nation and we must unite to salvage this nation from the hands of the present confused leaders of PDP,” he said.
Margaret Chan, President of the World Health Organization
Despite the declaration of Nigeria by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as Ebola-free zone, President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have warned Nigerians not be carried away by joy but to remain fully alert to possible re-entry of Ebola patient into the country. President Jonathan emphasized that the entire country should remain fully alert and vigilant against the re-entry of the virus.
The President was elated by WHO’s declaration of Nigeria as officially Ebola-free after 42 days without any incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease but called on all Nigerians to continue to follow the anti-Ebola advisories on sanitation and personal hygiene issued by Federal and State Health authorities. President Jonathan dedicates the certification to the many patriotic health workers, volunteers and ordinary Nigerians who worked tirelessly, some of them paying the ultimate price, to stop the deadly virus in its track after it entered the country in July this year. The President reiterated his appreciation of the contributions of state governments, WHO and other international health organizations, relatives of infected persons and other Nigerians who either courageously underwent the rigours of being quarantined or complied with all directives issued by health authorities to defeat the virus. He said that Nigeria’s globally-acclaimed success against Ebola is a testimony to what Nigerians can achieve if they set aside their differences and work together, even as he called on Nigerians to strive to replicate the unity of purpose and all-hands-on-deck approach adopted against Ebola in other areas of national life. President Jonathan expressed joy in the opinion expressed by WHO in its congratulatory message to Nigeria “that while we have won a battle against Ebola, the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.” The President has therefore directed that all the anti-Ebola measures taken after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus. This is even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar commended the successful eradication of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria which he said is a feat the would change the negative perception of the country by the outside world. The former Vice President said the Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Rivers States’ governments should be commended for this remarkable achievement in the face of the grimmest medical crisis that the country found itself dealing with. He said that the successful eradication of Ebola and the declaration of Nigeria as Ebola-free zone was a clear demonstration of the outcome of collaboration, hard work and commitment of the Government of Nigeria, Lagos and Rivers States’ governments. Atiku said that he was superbly impressed with the amazing manner Nigeria had proved to the world that it had the will, commitment and human resources to deal with critical challenges of this nature. According to him, when leaders work together for the common good of the society, there is always a ray of hope for the nation. The former Vice President also extolled the virtues of the medical personnel during the battle to control the spread of Ebola, adding that he was touched by the sacrifices of these medical personnel who sacrificed their own lives to save others. Atiku Abubakar advised the entire country not to rest on its oars until the last vestiges of the Ebola virus are destroyed. He said that every country must demonstrate the capacity to carry its fate in its own hands instead of relying on the outside world, and that he was proud Nigeria demonstrated that capacity.
A man who claimed to be the General Secretary and internal chief security officer of the dreaded Boko Haram, Danladi Ahmadu has confirmed that the over 200 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state whom they abducted on April 14 are in good shape and would be released as soon as the ongoing negotiation between the Nigerian government and their leaders for ceasefire is concluded.
Danladi, who spoke in an interview with the Voice of America on Friday said that the girls are fine and that they are eating food and in good shape “except challenges of reading in the camp. It is a lie that they are exposed to serial abuses. They are fine and in good health condition.”
Danladi who said that their leader, Abubakar Shekau is alive and not dead as claimed by the Nigerian security operatives, said: “it is not everything happening that is from us; some criminals are carrying their own act in the name of our group.
“First I wish to explain to you to know that, Imam Shekau is not dead as claimed because recently there was even communication and so he is alive.
“On the girls that we took from Chibok, all that we want before we free the girls is to get justice from the Nigerian state because there are many of our members that their business premises were destroyed, some killed and others in detention and many other oppression.
“Our people under detention are too many and they did nothing and many of them are just ordinary members.
“The girls are fine, they are eating food and in good shape except challenges of reading in the camp. It is a lie that they are exposed to serial abuses, they are fine and in good health condition.
“Regarding the cease fire, we are talking and it will continue when some people deeply involved are back from their trips.
“We are discussing with Nigerian government and it is one Hassan that is leading the team.
“He is directly working with Nigerian President and we will continue talking when our own people return.
“When it is clear the girls will be free and the world will see.
“By the special grace of God we have cease fire and by the grace of God we will in the future create avenue and people will hear it directly from our leader, Imam Shekau.” [myad]
Pressure from all stakeholders in Bauchi state is mounting on the minister of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed to resign from the federal cabinet and run for the governorship of the state in the 2015 election. The pressure, according to a statement from his Special Assistant on media and publicity, Nosike Ogbuenyi, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stake holders, political pressure groups, non-governmental organizations, associations, youth and women groups as well as associates, friends and supporters of the Minister from across the 20 Local Government Areas and three senatorial districts of Bauchi State. He said that they all converged on the Bauchu state capital where he had gone on a visit at the weekend. They asked the Minister to return home immediately and contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state. The stake holders and pressure groups insist that the FCT Minister is needed at home to transform Bauchi State the same way he transformed the FCT through his numerous people-oriented projects and programmed. “The leaders who spoke with unison one after the other at an impressive gathering, included a member of the national Board of Trustees of PDP, Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu, a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe, Alhaji Babayo Ahmed, Sarkin Fada Miri, Alhaji Usman Banki, Alhaji Mohammed Yau Gital, Hon. Riskat (aka Baby) and others maintained that Senator Bala Mohammed was greatly needed to bail out Bauchi State from the scourge of under development, unemployment, educational backwardness and other challenges. “At a massive rally attended by thousands of supporters of the Minister, speaker after speaker insisted that the minister that the FCT Minister must hearken to the call of his people to serve and deliver them from backwardness. “They called on the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Ahmad Muazu and the State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda to come out openly to support and endorse the Minister to contest the governorship on the platform of the ruling party. “Speaker after speaker at the mammoth gathering debunked the insinuation that Bauchi South Senatorial district, where Senator Bala Mohammed hails from, has been zoned out of the governorship race, stressing that Bauchi is a monolithic state and that the qualities and track records of the individual aspirants should be the sole determinant factor and not geographical place of birth. “According to one of the speakers, Alhaji Babayo Ahmed, they were very optimistic that the FCT Minister would accept their call to contest stressing that he is the only person that can easily coast to victory at the polls on the ticket of PDP. “Alhaji Ahmed who is also the Katukan Misau said that there was no difference between the Bauchi Central and the Bauchi South senatorial districts stressing that the six Local Government Areas that comprise the Central District are part and parcel of Bauchi, Ningi and Misau Emirates which cut across the two districts. “He described the FCT Minister as the most popular, acceptable and capable candidate that Bauchi State can boast of. He therefore enjoined him to quit the FCT Ministerial seat and return to Bauchi to serve his home people who are in dire need of his sterling leadership.”
Special Assistant to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala mohammed, on media and publicity, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi has announced how the minister has continued to receive commendations from various individuals and groups over the sacrifice he made by dropping his Bauchi governorship ambitiob to enable him concentrate on the rapid development and transformation of the FCT. In a statement today, Nosike said that the FCT Original Inhabitants Youths and Women Empowerment Association commended the Minister for listening to the voice of Abuja natives and others to shelve his gubernatorial bid. According to him, the President of the association, Commandant Isaac David also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for reposing confidence in the Bauchi-born Minister. The FCT native youths, he said, described the Minister’s dropping of his governorship bid as an outstanding act of patriotism and sacrifice. He said that they saw Bala’s act as being in national interest even as they pledged the support of the vast majority of FCT indigenes for the Minister and the President as they implement the transformation agenda.
Former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the South-South Zone, Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere is dead, even as President Goodluck Jonathan grieved over his death. Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere who is the Founder and General Overseer of Greater Evangelism World Crusade Ministries International, died today in Rivers state. In a condolence message to Apostle Numbere’s wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Nonyem Numbere, his children, relatives and members of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade Church, the President described the deceased as a revered spiritual leader. According to Jonathan, the enormous impact which Apostle Numbere had on the moral and social development of millions of Nigerians and non-Nigerians will be greatly missed. The President who also commiserated with the people of Rivers State on the loss of Apostle Numbere, prayed to God to receive Apostle Numbere’s soul and grant him eternal rest from his diligent labour in the Lord’s Vineyard.
Former Head of State and the Presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) has described elections in Nigeria as all about Naira and Dollar and not about religion and ethnicity.
“I understood that it was not about religion and ethnicity, but Naira and Dollar,” General Buhari noted at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern stakeholders’ interactive meeting in Kaduna.
He went on: “I contested the Presidential election three times in this country and failed and ended up in the Supreme Courts and lost the case. The first time the judges agreed that there were no elections and they were all Christians, but the second time, the judges that declared that the PDP had won despite the irregularities were Fulanis from Adamawa and Taraba, and a Nupe man. That was when I understood that it was not about religion and ethnicity, but Naira and Dollar. So, there is the need for the party to be united and make a difference in the general elections in 2015.”
The former Head of State described 2015 as another year of extreme concern to Nigerians, urging participants at the meeting not to allow their members to be disenfranchised before or during the elections.
“If PDP is given another four years to rule this country, Nigeria will go down the drain in 2015. This is because Nigerians are tired of incompetent leadership, so we must be ready to make sacrifices that will salvage the country. Let us not allow our people to be disenfranchised during the elections. We must be united to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.”
APC presidential aspirants present at the meeting included former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Sam Nda Isaiah. Other members were Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, among others. [myad]
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The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III was in Asaba, capital of Delta state today to attend the 60th birthday of the governor of Delta state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
Pressure from all stakeholders in Bauchi state is mounting on the minister of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed to resign from the federal cabinet and run for the governorship of the state in the 2015 election.
Special Assistant to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala mohammed, on media and publicity, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi has announced how the minister has continued to receive commendations from various individuals and groups over the sacrifice he made by dropping his Bauchi governorship ambitiob to enable him concentrate on the rapid development and transformation of the FCT.
APC Leaders And The Anti-Metuh Fixation, By Richard Ihediwa
In recent times, there has been a series of personal attacks sponsored in a section of the media by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in a spirited plot to discredit officials of the federal government and those of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The overall Machiavellian purpose of these attacks is very clear; to bring respected officials of the federal government and the PDP to public odium.
Typical of a desperate opposition, as the 2015 general elections approach, the APC leaders have scaled up these attacks. In the last couple of months, they have engaged an army of heavily paid consultants masquerading as columnists and writers in local and foreign media to sustain this devious enterprise by employing their stock-in-trade of lies, insults and blackmails.
This is in addition to the unleashing of APC thugs in the social media who use multiple accounts with pseudonyms to attack PDP, its people-oriented programmes and post lies and insults against President Goodluck Jonathan.
Of particular note is the endless personal attack on the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. In the last few months, the APC has concentrated its onslaught against the PDP spokesperson and the reason is not far-fetched. Since his emergence as PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh has become for members of the opposition party, a thorn in the flesh for matching their propaganda machinery by effectively projecting the positive image of the PDP while exposing the many inherent negatives of the APC.
The APC is distraught because Metuh has been able to adequately communicate the unique selling points of the PDP and the major difference between its content and character and those of the APC. They are bitter because their party has been appropriately and correctly profiled by Metuh as an anti-Nigeria platform which does not have the interest of the people at heart.
While effectively projecting the PDP as a national and democratic party, committed to the overall national interest without regard to ethnic and religious considerations, Metuh has further succeeded in presenting the true picture of the APC as a sectional and undemocratic party, completely lacking in ideology, promoting division among Nigerians; a party of frustrated and corrupt dictators seeking a platform to actualize their ethnic, religious and pecuniary agenda. He succeeded in exposing the hidden links between the utterances of the APC and the insecurity that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent citizens.
The APC leaders have been having sleepless nights because Metuh not only stripped their party of its fake messianic robe, making a public display of its true identity as a party on a mission to destroy Nigeria, but also showed that it is no alternative to the PDP, a message which has formed a strong foundation for informed electoral choices for 2015 general elections based not on propaganda but on reason and facts as was the case in the June 21 Ekiti state governorship election.
It is against this backdrop that the PDP National Publicity Secretary became a critical assignment for the APC. He must be stopped. Having failed to silence him through a series of threats and litigations, the APC leaders have now resorted to a well-funded campaign of calumny in an attempt to discredit and cow him to silence so as to effectively deny the PDP a credible voice to project its image, defend its policies and programmes and highlight the performances of its elected officials.
Characteristically, Metuh has maintained his high moral ground of decency and equanimity in the face of the attacks by APC leaders. He has refused to join issues with them or to allow himself to be distracted. However, it is very important to place on record that there is no statement by Metuh on APC or its leaders that has not been based on facts. This explains the reason APC leaders and their paid writers have continued to indulge in stretching their imagination but always end up with insults and threats.
The questions are: is the APC not a private estate of few politicians who have instituted a reign of impunity and brazen dictatorship within its fold? Are APC leaders not running their party like a rebel group? Are they not engaged in actions and utterances that promote division and violence in the country? Have they not been deliberately dishing out lies and fabrications in their statements to incite Nigerians and discredit the PDP led-administration?
Since its registration on July 13, 2013, the APC has never purposefully and constructively engaged and challenged the PDP on issues. Instead, in its 15 months of existence, it has issued hundreds of press statements all of which have been devoted to attacking government officials and those of the PDP as subterfuge to cover their heinous plot against the nation.
APC leaders have continued to promote violence through their utterances as a means to achieve political control. The statement by their National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that his party will set up a parallel government should it lose in the 2015 presidential election (bear in mind that APC’s understanding of ‘rigging’ is where they lose) not only betrays their inner agenda but also confirms Metuh’s position that the APC is promoting a Janjaweed ideology.
This is in addition to inflammatory statements by other APC leaders, including its Deputy National Secretary, Nasir El-Rufai, who was widely reported to have declared that the 2015 elections will be bloody and for which he was questioned by the Department of Security Services.
Metuh has been able to prove that we have an opposition party which seeks to weaken critical institutions of government, make them vulnerable and set the stage for the materialization of their ignoble plans. The publishing of negative advertorials and articles in local and foreign media by the APC; and the sponsoring of pockets of anti-government protests across the country confirm his position.
Nigerians may recall the sustained vitriolic attacks and campaign of calumny against the legislature at the national and state levels with the APC issuing statements labeling them as corrupt and falsely accusing them of receiving millions of dollars to do PDP’s bidding.
A typical example of the lies that constantly lace APC statement was its news release of June 19, 2014 where it averred that a plane carrying Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend its rally in Ekiti was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano on that day and had no plans to travel to Ekiti state.
Having been completely exposed, APC leaders are very bitter with Metuh. They are now desperate and want to use every means including circulating negative publications to stop him. Of particular reference is a publication in a section of the media by Sunday Dare, the Special Assistant to the former Governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
A similar article written by one Tobi Idaomi appeared in some online news sites. This is in addition to attacks by paid bloggers and APC social media thugs.
Typical of the APC, the Dare article, meant to be a response to the well-articulated PDP statement wherein it urged Nigerians to quit the APC because of its anti-democratic stance and the dictatorial tendencies of its leaders, left the issues and dwelt on insults. Tinubu and his co-travelers in APC must be extremely bitter because Metuh’s well-researched statement issued on Saturday, September 6, 2014 completely exposed their despotic tendencies. Instead of responding to the issues raised in the PDP statement, Tinubu’s handlers went wild with abuses further confirming Metuh’s position that the APC is a party of intolerant politicians.
The questions Nigerians must ask are: why has Tinubu refused to answer Metuh’s query regarding how he emerged the leader of APC? Was he elected? Does this not show the APC as an undemocratic party “where despots crown themselves national leaders without recourse to appropriate democratic process?”
Tinubu should answer Metuh on why he barred a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi from contesting the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State on APC platform. He should explain the role he played in stopping former Senate Minority Leader, Olorunnimbe Mamora, from re-contesting the Senate seat in 2011.
Yes. Tinubu should reply Metuh. Did he not impose his son in-law, Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo as a member representing Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives?
Did he not impose his sister in-law, Lola Fibisola Akande as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to replace his late mother, Abibatu Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men?
These and many more were issues raised in the PDP statement which Tinubu’s media office failed to address. In fact, they will be rendering better service to their master by helping him provide answers to Nigerians on the widely reported allegations of monumental fraud and massive looting of Lagos state’s resources leveled against him.
In any case, the APC must understand that no amount of sponsored media attacks, blackmails, insults and threats will subdue the resolve to stand for the truth, which Olisa Metuh now personify in the current political scenario. Indeed, nothing will deter him from continuing to be of service to our dear fatherland by exposing the evil machinations of the APC until they heed calls by well-meaning Nigerians to learn to conduct themselves in a manner expected of responsible citizens and stakeholders in the Nigerian project.
Ihediwa is Special Assistant to PDP National Publicity Secretary.
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