PDP on 17th anniversary: We’re still the best

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again described itself as the only true national political party with the “broadest” hue.

PDP that “bragging right” until the All Progressives Congress (APC) came on stream, always describing itself as the only national political party and the largest in Africa before its defeat in the general election.

Speaking at a press conference held to mark the 17th anniversary of the party in Abuja on Monday, Olisa Metuh, PDP spokesman, said in spite of its defeat in the last general election, the party had shown strength as the only Nigerian political party that is completely owned and controlled by the Nigerian people; with structures in all the nooks and crannies of the country; and where no individual or group of individuals can claim ownership or allowed to appropriate the interest of the generality of the members.

“This unique national outlook clearly informs PDP’s irrevocable stance on politics of national integration, which ensured that no group or section in the polity is excluded from power, public office and spread of development projects, in line with the federal character principle of
our great country,” Metuh said.

“The PDP stands tall in history as the first political party in Nigeria to nurture and sustain democratic system of government and a stable polity uninterrupted for 16 years. This did not come by accident, but through meticulous application, by successive PDP administrations, of policies as enshrined in the party’s ideology and manifesto, which within the ambit of the laws, achieved and sustained success in all sectors of the polity and economy.

“The PDP is still the only pan-Nigeria party, wholly committed to the Nigerian project, accommodating all national interest and whose only agenda remains the unity, stability and prosperity of Nigeria and its people.

“While we restate our gratitude to the Nigerian electorate who stood by us in our 16 years in government at the centre, and who for obvious reasons now have greater confidence in us than before, we deeply celebrate past and present leaders of our party, past and present members of our National Executive Committee (NEC), past and present elected government officials at the national and state levels, our development partners and teeming members nationwide.

“As we play our new opposition role, the PDP, as a highly responsible party, will continue to provide a firm but credible opposition, presenting alternatives to the programmes and policies of the present government while firmly standing on the side of the citizens in opposing acts and policies that are inimical to the health of the nation and the happiness of the people.

“We therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support the PDP as it relentlessly pursues and defends those values and tenets that ensure our unity, stability and prosperity as one people under God.”