The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted yet another failed image
laundering stunt by the APC wherein its National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun cheapened his office and person by attempting to use an
unempirical statement by Australian Dr. Stephen Davis, to absolve his
party of blames for promoting insurgency in the country.
Whilst we recognize the right of citizens to hold and canvass opinion in
a democratic setting such as guaranteed under the PDP-led
administration, we hold, and strongly too that such rights must be
properly and respectably exercised.
It is therefore shocking and worrisome that the APC National Chairman,
in a frenzied effort to extricate his party, could issue a statement
completely lacking in validity, character and intellectual content
befitting of a National Chairman of a political party.
Oyegun’s statement rather than exonerate the APC has reinforced and
underscored its true identity as a party of desperate politicians
supportive of violence and disunity through their utterances and body
language, a fact that is already well known to all Nigerians.
In trying to stand the truth on its head, Oyegun has succeeded in
further exposing the desperation of the APC to launder its image through
renewed propaganda and blackmail, a project which has already failed.
If not to achieve the self-serving purpose of exonerating the APC, why
would Oyegun’s statement choose to be silent on the revelation by Davis
that some people opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan used their
connections to Boko Haram to frustrate his efforts?
We also wonder why the APC has chosen to ignore some of the revealing
aspects of Dr. Davis’ interview concerning Boko Haram’s funding and
sponsorship. Is it because they are not favourable to them?
While not holding brief for anybody, it is clear to every discerning
mind that Oyegun’s statement, with all intent and purpose is yet another
decoy to frustrate genuine effort at finding solution to the security
challenges we face as a nation to the advantage of the APC whose
penchant to use the promoting of violence as tool to achieve political
control is well known to all.
Nigerians may recall the frenzy with which the APC fought against moves
by the British Parliament to investigate its involvement with terrorist
elements as well as to divert attention from their meetings outside the
shores of our country in their bid to promote insurgency in Nigeria.
For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to restate that we stand by our
statements that the APC as a party with a Janjaweed ideology has been
promoting insurgency and acts of terrorism through the actions and
utterances of its leaders. Indeed, no amount of blackmail or propaganda
can erase this truth.
Nigerians have since noted the pattern and timing of violent attacks
against our people which betray a trend tailored against the PDP and the
Federal Government and provide impetus for the APC to find a voice and
thrive. They know that it has become a recurring decimal that whenever
the PDP or the Federal Government records or is about to record a major
milestone, insurgents launch attacks on the people.
Oyegun must understand that Nigerians know the APC for what it truly is
and can no longer be hoodwinked by propaganda, blackmail and tactical
misrepresentation. He should therefore stop debasing his office by
struggling for media space with his National Publicity Secretary.
It is indeed disheartening that the APC National Chairman has continued
to disparage his office and age by making series of unguarded and
inflammatory utterances and issuing statements laced with fabrications
and wild allegations while leading his party like a frustrated rebel
group desperate for political control; and whose understanding of
opposition is crass unruliness and a culture of irresponsibility.
Chief Oyegun has only succeeded in disappointing many Nigerians who
thought his coming to office will result in a more responsible and
constructive opposition. Instead, the reprehensible image of the APC as
a party that has nothing good to offer has worsened under his watch.
In the last two months, he has made more incendiary statements aimed to
incite the people and balkanize the nation than any other opposition
chairman has done. The threat to form a parallel government and other
inflammatory statements at APC events readily come to mind.
Our advice to the opposition is that they should learn to properly
comport themselves, eschew bitterness, desperation and divisive
tendencies and think of how to make meaningful contributions to tackle
the challenges facing the nation.
On his own part, Chief Oyegun, as a former state governor should retrace
his steps and strive to be nationalistic and statesmanlike and comport
himself as an opposition leader. For now, he is a little more than a
glorified media assistant. A word is enough for the wise.
Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary