G5, Baraje Joining APC: PDP Is Not Moved – Metuh

NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said, yesterday, that it was not moved by the movement of some members of the G7 governors and the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led splinter group to the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress, APC.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said while addressing newsmen, that in politics and democracy, the beauty is that some people must leave a political party, while others come in, adding that with the actions of the governors and members of the Baraje group, Nigerians now know their true colours.

Metuh said, “The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been drawn to an announcement by members of the so called New PDP declaring their membership of the All Progressive Congress, APC. We recognise the rights of freedom of association for all Nigerians and declare that it is within the rights of any Nigerian citizen to associate with anybody he/she deems fit.”

Vanguard learnt that in spite of the defection of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja to APC, the Alhaji Umaru Dikko led National Disciplinary Committee will still meet today in Legacy House, PDP Presidential Campaign office, Maitama, Abuja. A source said that the Committee will meet at the end of which it will submit its report to the Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee, NWC.

Speaking further on the defection of Oyinlola and others, Metuh said, “By this open declaration today, those individuals have unveiled their true intent which most Nigerians suspected ab initio. They have chosen  to abandon a broad based national platform and embraced a narrow group of ethnic and religious bigots whose main intention is to unleash a state of anarchy on Nigeria.

“We wish to state categorically that the PDP remains unperturbed as we are now rid of detractors and distractions. We urge all our members nationwide to remain focused and close ranks, now that agents of distraction have finally left our ranks. We wish to remind our members that from the rulings of the court there are no factions whatsoever in the PDP. In the eyes of the law, the PDP remains one and an indivisible entity under the leadership of  Dr. Bamanga Tukur, CON.

“We wish to commend the wise decision of some of the aggrieved governors to dissociate themselves from the action of some of their colleagues. We assure all Nigerians that the PDP will continue to grow from strength to strength and will definitely emerge stronger from this event. We reiterate that the position of the law is very clear that there is no faction whatsoever in the PDP.”

Hailing President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts at restoring peace to the party, Metuh disclosed that the peace process initiated by the president was still on course, adding, “We wish to use this opportunity to remind all PDP members that the peace process initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan is still on course and we wish to thank him for his patience, humility and spirit of accommodation. The meeting between the President and aggrieved members shall hold on Sunday, December 01, 2013.

“Finally, we wish to reassure our teeming members that our doors remain open to address all grievances. We shall, however, not condone any acts of internal subversion from any quarters. The beauty of Democracy is that in a political party system, some members are bound to leave while others come in.”

Culled from Vanguard