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• Says defectors ‘ll return
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the outcome of its forthcoming national convention is crucial to the sustenance of the country’s democracy.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, stated this, while briefing journalists in Abuja, yesterday on preparation for the convention, which is scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State on November 15 and 16.
He said exit of some of its members will not affect the conduct of the convention, especially as the PDP is not built around individuals. However, he expressed optimism that members of the PDP, who left the opposition party for the other political parties will eventually return to the platform.
Ologunagba accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of ruining the country in the 10 years it has been in government, claiming the ruling party treats the citizens with contempt.
The PDP spokesman dismissed the much-talked about Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project as a scam from the beginning. “We have said before that it was a scam, from the bidding process, it was a scam. It fits into the description of a special purpose vehicle. The contractor that got the contract supposedly without bidding. There was no competitive bidding.
“This government does not care about the Nigerian people, they don’t want transparency. It is in the character of the government, even the way they relate with us.
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“They talk about savings from subsidy removal, we don’t even know how much it is, to the extent that we are borrowing, and if you ask questions, somebody would say to you, you are too small. You are too little. That is who they are. That is why there would be a budget, that you don’t know the performance level and you can’t ask questions. That is why they want to silence everybody.”
He noted that Nigerians are enthusiastic about the national convention as it marks the beginning of the move by the PDP to sack the APC as the ruling party.
“The National convention of the People’s Democratic Party 2025 is critical to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and that explains the enthusiasm, the interest that Nigerians across board have in our party.
“Nigerians are excited and are eager to know what we are doing and eager to ensure that we put ourselves together as a party. Because that is the only way that we can guarantee the sustenance of democracy.
“We had 16 years of unbroken governance by the PDP. Where we had what I always refer to and many Nigerians believed that to be the glorious era in development and hope in this country.
“Before that time, before 1999. It was difficult for this country to have recognition worldwide. We were like a pariah state. When the PDP came on board and set the country back on the path of development. We paid off our debts. We had double-digit GDP growth. We had inflation contained. We have policies that are invested in people in their human capital development.
“We have an economy that was number one in Africa and by the time the PDP left government in 2015, we had over a $600 billion economy. Nigeria was then the number one destination for foreign capital investment and all of that has been rolled back in the last 10 years or so.”
