May 31, 2012.

 PRESS RELEASE 

PDP Challenges the opposition to an issue based public debate 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the opposition to a series of public debates on issues of national development and project inspection, to compare achievements, instead of engaging in unconstructive criticism on the pages of newspapers. 

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s Democracy Day address to the nation had chronicled the giant strides taken by the PDP led government in all sectors of the nation’s life. But while the President is doing all that is humanly possible to ensure stability within the polity, the opposition leaders are constantly sowing seeds of discord.” 

In a press statement distributed yesterday, Metuh argued that “Despite the opposition’s antagonism towards the PDP, the entire world has acknowledged that our democracy is now stable, strong and firm; and its future is bright. Yet in their desperation and desire to destroy the reputation of the PDP, some leaders of the opposition parties are turning into prophets of doom, promising us brim stone and fire if they fail in their quest to acquire power. We will not allow them to derail our democracy. As President Jonathan said in his May 29^thaddress, “we will not treat the success we have recorded with our democratic experience with levity.” 

Salami: Tinubu is just looking for lost relevance -- PDP

Press Release 28^th May 2012

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the restlessness in the camp of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on the issue of the reinstatement of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami as a confirmation of veiled vested interest.

“The desperation of the Action Congress of Nigeria which peaked today with an unreflecting statement from its leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu amounts to a frontal attack on both the President and our great Party and is further confirmation that ACN has a different agenda in the Justice Salami saga than its touted role as an evangelist of the rule of law.”

In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said that “for Tinubu to describe as a coup on the rule of law, the engagement of due process in the resolution of Justice Salami’s re-instatement, sketches a graphic effigy of a hypocrite in a desperate agenda to re-shape facts.”

27^th  May, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

13 YEARS AFTER: WE HAVE STAYED THE COURSE!

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bamanga Tukur (CON), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and millions of party members nationwide salutes the President and Commander-in-chief, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), the Vice president, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo (GCON), leaders and members of the national assembly, the judiciary, state governors, labour and civil society groups and indeed all Nigerians as the nation marks the 2012 Democracy Day.

When in 1999, Nigerians entrusted our great party with the leadership of the nation, we promised to re-build Nigeria based on the ideology established by our founding fathers. Since then the PDP has made significant progress in returning the country to the path of sustainable development and steady economic growth as a basis to stabilize and consolidate our democracy. In the last 13 years, PDP governments at federal, states and local council levels, have carried out far-reaching reforms in the various sectors of the economy to serve as building blocks for sustainable development and to grow our capacity in local production and improve the quality of service delivery. This has been achieved despite various challenges which we have taken in our stride and which has served to make us stronger as a unified political party.

May 28, 2012.

Press Release

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Wednesday May 30^th 2012 inaugurate a high powered Advisory Committee to the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Tukur, (CON). 

The event will take place here at the Party’s National Secretariat by 11 am prompt. 

Members of the Committee includes:-

1.    Chief Dr. Alex Ekwueme                     -                  Chairman

2.    Dr. Mohammed Shata                        -                  Member/Secretary

3.    Chief Dr. Joseph Wayas                     -                  Member

4.    Chief Tonyn Anenih                           -                  “

5.    Chief Richard Akinjide SAN                 -                  “

6.    Chief Solomon Lar                            -                  “

7.    Alh. Muhammadu Gambo, Dan Lawan Adamawa

8.    Alh. Ibrahim Coomassie, Sardunan Katsina      “

9.    Chief Ike Nwachukwu                        -                  “

10. Senator Barnabas Gemade                 -                  “

11.Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo                       -                  “

12. Senator Ibrahim Mantu                      -                  “

13. Senator Bello Maitama, Sardauna        -                  “

25^th May 2012         

PRESS RELEASE 

CAN GOT IT WRONG ON TUKUR- PDP 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as a contextual misinterpretation of relevant facts, the remark by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor on the harmless   statement by the PDP National chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur on Boko Haram and peace in Northern Nigeria. 

A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said Dr. Tukur is a foremost Nigerian who in words and actions has shown himself a true patriot that cannot be conceived in the mould of ethnic or religious bigotry. 

“Over the decades, he has built bridges of friendship across religions and regions of Nigeria, etching his name as an African statesman. It is on record also, that since he was elected the National Chairman of our great Party, his message has been consistent on the imperative of unity, equity and justice for every Nigerian.” 

24^th May 2012

Press Release  

PDP Commends President Jonathan for setting up electoral violence tribunal 

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commended Dr. Goodluck Jonathan President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Executive Council for adopting the recommendation of the Sheik Ahmed Lemu panel on post 2011 election violence in the country to set up a Special Tribunal for trying electoral offences. 

The Party National Publicity Secretary stated that “the President deserves a commendation from all well-meaning Nigerians and patriots who want to see that a civilized democracy is entrenched in the country, a democracy that will be devoid of rancour, thuggery and violence”. 

“The courage and foresight shown by the President and his Executive Council members by adopting the Lemu panel white paper and setting up of a special tribunal to curtail electoral violence could not have come at a better time, especially now that some politicians are beginning to see incitement to violence as a valid political campaign strategy” he said.

17^th May 2012 

PRESS RELEASE    

ACN AS A VENDOR OF FALSEHOOD 

The Peoples Democratic Party has described as height of hypocrisy, the statement from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that the 2011 general elections were rigged, saying that the fact that ACN had waited over a year to voice a contrary opinion to its earlier position is an indication that the Party is belatedly regurgitating falsehood from an already digested fact. 

“This is a very shameful attempt to regurgitate falsehood from a well known fact. It is over a year since the 2011 Presidential election which the Peoples Democratic Party won fair and square as attested to by local and international observers. And it is on record that neither the ACN leadership nor its Presidential flag bearer challenged the credibility of that election.” 

“In fact, the ACN’s Pontifex Maximus, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had while presenting a paper at Chatham House, London on Monday July, 18^th 2011 admitted to the whole world that President Goodluck Jonathan won the 2011 Presidential election.” 

May 16, 2012

Press Release

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has denied alleged rift in the leadership of the PDP over the recommendation by the National Judicial Council(NJC) requesting the President to reinstate Justice Ayo Salami, the suspended President of the Court of Appeal. 

“The alleged rift in the leadership of our great Party over the recommendation by NJC to the President to reinstate the suspended President of the Court of Appeal is not only false but a baseless media speculation.  The PDP as a Party had at no time discussed the issue much less disagreeing over it. ”

In a statement personally signed by Prince Oyinlola, he said the PDP has no reason to table for discussion at its National Working Committee, a matter that both the federal Executive and the Judiciary have entirely conceded its resolution to the unconditional context of due process and rule of law.

15^th May 2012

PRESS RELEASE

WE ARE UNFAIRLY TREATED BY LABOUR AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS- PDP  

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Nigerian Labour Congress and the civil society groups to allow a high degree of dispassion and objectivity guide their stand on issues of national challenge.

“The labour and the civil society groups are part of the building blocks for a viable democracy. Political parties and civil organisations all have their respective roles in the sustenance of democratic ideals; indeed in building a great nation.  However, such greatness cannot be achieved through a trajectory of engagement that often loses objectivity for reasons that do not shelter the interest of all.” 

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh accused the labour and the civil society groups of singling out the PDP for blame at every slightest opportunity while sweeping under the carpet serial abuses of democratic process and rule of law by the opposition political parties especially the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

Buhari Should Spare The Nation His Thirst for Blood 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finds it very disturbing that General Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is once again inciting people to take the law into their hands; inciting Nigerians to slaughter fellow Nigerians as he did sequel to the 2011 general elections. 

Gentlemen, we need to remind ourselves that on April 21, 2012, Buhari was reported in the media as predicting a bloody revolution in 2015. The  reports in the national dailies today quoting the same retired General as repeating that blood will flow in 2015 is another build-up to Buhari's relish of funeral train. 

While PDP cherishes freedom of speech, assembly and association as the custodian of Nigeria's democracy, we at that same time know that such freedom goes with immense responsibilities. We condemn in no uncertain terms this shameful call for the spill of blood of innocent Nigerians to acquire political power.

Agriculture holds the key to our survival as a nation, says PDP Chairman

*…As the party honours him with a grand reception 

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has identified agriculture as the sector that holds the key to the survival of Nigeria as a nation because of its potentials for creating millions of jobs, eradicating poverty and arresting youth’s restiveness. 

“Fellow compatriots, agriculture holds the key to our survival as a nation. It is by massively investing in agriculture that we can truly eradicate poverty, create millions of jobs and reduce insecurity. With vast land and water, there is no reason any Nigerian should stay hungry.”

“Since hungry people are angry people, we should feed our people to secure our nation. For this reason, I urge all states government to develop a minimum of 50,000 hectares of arable land for round-the -year farming. If we do that, youth’s restiveness shall be a thing of the past.” 

Unity is the only remedy to Nigeria’s Illness -- Tukur

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has once again reiterated the party’s mission of transforming Nigeria into a nation of one people, saying that will be the remedy for all the illness and challenges bedeviling the country.

“Where ever I happen to be and have the opportunity to talk, I remind our people that our postage symbol in those days reads ‘One Nation, One people, One Destiny’. Let us all build our nation. It is ours. Let us be the ones responsible for it. If we do so, all the negative things we see today will just disappear. And that will bring us prosperity,” he said.

The PDP National Chairman made the call at a reception, Wednesday evening, to officially round-up the activities of his campaign organization, BMT.

 May 9, 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

The National Working Committee of the People Democratic Party (PDP) has observed the current political trend in Edo State with great concern:

The NWC is particularly appalled with the dangerous desent to violence and the resort to baseless accusations and foul language employed to score cheap political points.

In order to clear the doubts in the minds of those who have been inundated with vile propaganda from the ACN government in Edo State, the NWC wishes to state as follows:

May 7 2012 

Press Release 

PDP thanks Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo and Chief Tonye Princewill 

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur on behalf of the National Working Committee expressed his appreciation to Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo and Chief Tonye Princewill who recently donated a purpose built media centre to the Party, installed in the headquarters in Abuja. 

The Party Chairman particularly commended Chief Princewill for the timing of his donation, which he believes, will enhance the Party’s new journey of re-birth, transformation, development and expansion. He said, “The intention of the National Working Committee is to enlighten Nigerians about the vision and achievements of the PDP governments at both federal and state levels. It is therefore crucial to have a well-equipped media centre with the capacity to address the challenges of a modern public relations department”. The media centre has the capacity to house 30 staff and is equipped to facilitate video production and multimedia research.

4th, May 2012

PRESS RELEASE 

The Peoples Democratic Party has restated its readiness to abide by all competent court decisions in line with its cardinal objectives as a law abiding political party. It however warned its members against frivolous court actions capable of retarding the progress of the Party. 

Arising from its National Working Committee meeting, the Party said it has taken note of the various legal actions instituted by some of its members against the outcome of the last congresses in some states and geopolitical zones and warned it will only implement decisions that have passed through all judicial processes as required by law even as it advised members to be guided by the constitutional provisions in this respect. 

PDP is determined to keep Nigeria one, says Tukur 

The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Alhaji (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur, has reassured Nigerians that PDP is determined to give the kind of good life anybody could wish anywhere in the world, emphasizing that PDP is not only thinking of one prosperous Nigeria but one Africa.

Tukur gave the assurance yesterday when receiving the 2011/12 report of the National Congress and Planning Committee of the party at Wadata House, Abuja, Headquarters of the PDP.

“We may be of different ethnicity but our differences are our strength. Our diversity is our greatest strength. PDP is always working to ensure that Nigeria is one nation one people. We are not only thinking of oneness but Africaness. If Chinese are talking of being Europeans, we cannot do less,” said Tukur.