Why we apologised to Nigerians ―PDP

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained that its apology to Nigerians is a pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and remobilization of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from its current “pathetic situation occasioned by the painful misrule” of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP had on Monday apologized to Nigerians for its mistakes during its 16 years administration and asked to be given another chance.

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Clarifying its position on Tuesday, the party in a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, its National Publicity Secretary, said that as a responsible party, committed to the good of Nigerians, it is deeply saddened that Nigerians are suffering because “the nation allowed the APC, a movement that has neither structure nor plan, to scheme itself into governance, devastate the country, wreck our once robust economy and plunge our citizens into a situation of hunger, starvation and daily bloodletting.”

The party said it is not unmindful of the fact that lessons have been learnt and that Nigerians across the board are now looking up to its repositioned and rebranded platform to pull the country from the brinks and return her to the path of true democracy, national cohesion and economic prosperity, which it affirmed? were the hallmarks of PDP’s 16 years.

The PDP maintained that while certain mistakes were made in its internal administration prior to the 2015 general election, its new leadership has already smoothened the rough edges to ensure strict adherence to internal democracy and good governance in all processes.

It added, “It is imperative to further state that our apology has to do more with the fact that we made certain mistakes that allowed an anti-people movement to take over governance in our country.

“Our situation under the APC has become so pathetic that the world is now contemplating on how to help us. Under the APC misrule, the average lifespan of Nigerians has become abysmally low, purchasing power is eroded, the middle class has been wiped off, security is almost non-existent, all the economic gains of the PDP years have been destroyed, and our nation is now placed on auto-pilot.

“It is painful to note that under the nightmarish rule of APC, Nigerians have become so frustrated that they now consider suicide mission and slavery as options.

“Therefore, our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the rebranded PDP, particularly, as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation.”

The opposition party charged the APC and the Federal Government to end their “false sanctimony and immediately return all stolen funds” used to finance President Muhammadu Buhari’s election in 2015 to the Federation Account.

In a separate state by Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the APC and its Federal Government cannot continue to play the saints when state governors, “who stole hundreds of billions of naira meant for the development of their states to fund President Buhari in 2015, are still enjoying cover as members of the Buhari kitchen cabinet, despite outrage from Nigerians.”

The party observed that there is no evidence that the PDP, as a party, looted any public fund, adding that, the APC and President Buhari campaigned for the 2015 presidential election with “looted billions of naira” meant for the provision of essential amenities for ordinary Nigerians.

The party said the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, misfired in his outburst that the PDP should return alleged looted funds when the only party known to have used looted funds has always been the APC.

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It further said: “It is, to say the least, despicable that the APC and its Federal Government, in their arrogance, would always try to play the saint when they were elected with the stolen fund and have continued to reek with filth and sleaze.

“Nigerians are aware that prior to the 2015 election, President Buhari had informed that he was insolvent.

“He, however, took Nigerians by surprise as he enjoyed one of the most expensive presidential campaigns in the history of our nation while turning a blind eye to reports of massive looting of funds from APC controlled states.

“Indeed, if there is any party that should refund looted funds, it is the APC, which directly used stolen money to scheme in the election of President Buhari in 2015, while known culpable persons now sit comfortably around the Presidential table, still superintending over the looting of our common patrimony.

“This is the APC, whose government, has been rated by international bodies including the Transparency International (TI) which latest report shows that corruption and sleaze had escalated under its watch.

“This is the same government where ministers and officials indicted for corruption and looting of public funds, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which is directly under the purview of Mr President, are shielded and condoned.

“Even presently,  Mr Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communication, has been accused of owing his aides N13million; that he has no fewer than 12 houses across the nation, bought a N93m printing press; bought 25 luxury cars for his personal use, among others.

“Yet, nothing has been heard from either the dysfunctional APC or its incompetent federal government.

“While the repositioned PDP maintain its unpretentious stance towards Nigerians, we charge the Minister of Information to direct his demand to the Presidency and the APC as Nigerians are expecting them to refund the stolen funds they used to scheme themselves into office in 2015.”