Anti-Democratic Actions: ‘We Stand By Our Statement’ – PDP Tells APC

Anti-Democratic Actions: ‘We Stand By Our Statement’ – PDP Tells APC
….Insists Lai Mohammed Is Originator of Hate Language

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has no apologies to offer to
the APC, especially, its spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for exposing
his penchant for barefaced lies, insults and distortion of facts to
deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on
Tuesday described, as “a mockery of self opinion, Alhaji Mohammed’s
early morning tirade on Tuesday, wherein he attempted to pontificate on
decorum, a field where he has no credentials, being the originator of
hate campaign, with which he fouled Nigeria’s political arena and
influenced hundreds of young people, who now engage in abusing one
another on the social media, thinking that such is what publicity is all
about.

“It is, to say the least, a dance of hypocrisy, for the APC spokesman to
wake the nation up, at exactly 7:29 Tuesday morning, to bemoan his being
fittingly described as “a renowned liar”, when he, in his widely covered
press conference the previous day, called the Acting National Chairman
of our great party, Prince Uche Secondus and the entire leadership of
our party liars, for exposing the involvement of the APC-led government
in the invasion of Akwa-Ibom State government house by the Department of
State Services (DSS) in addition to moves to compromise that state’s
governorship election tribunal.

“It is also common knowledge that during the 2015 campaigns, Lai
Mohammed distinguished himself in hauling insults at everyone, including
continually denigrating and labeling the person and office of the
President of this country, an excursion he saw nothing wrong with, at
that time.

"While we appreciate the sleeplessness and nervousness of the APC
spokesperson in his desperation to be noticed for an appointment, we
have no apologies for exposing his lies and hypocrisy.

“Alhaji Mohammed, in his early morning outburst sought to divert
attention and failed to address the issues raised by the PDP regarding
his proclivity for distortion of fact. We therefore want to remind him
that Nigerians are still waiting for his explanations for becoming the
mouthpiece of the DSS, which has a spokesman and internal machinery for
public communication.

“He has failed to address the contradiction in his statement where he
clamed that the APC was not privy to the reasons for the DSS' search of
the Akwa Ibom Government House while at the same time explaining that
the agency acted within its area of competence and authority’.

Furthermore, apart from “a liar”, what words would Lai Mohammed use in
describing himself when he, in May this year, nearly scuttled the
transition programme with his false statement alleging that the APC team
was being frustrated, only for the head of the APC’s Transition
Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda to announce that there was nothing of such?

“How else would Lai Mohammed describe himself when he, in June 2014
issued a statement alleging that a plane carrying former Kano state
governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend an APC rally in Ekiti was
denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of
Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another
event in Kano on that date and had no plans to travel to Ekiti state?

“We are not yet talking about the denial of the list of campaign
promises upon which the APC rode to power at the center and the endless
propaganda, insults and blackmail hauled on well-meaning Nigerians when
they attempt to offer counsels on observed infractions and
anti-democratic tendencies of the APC administration.

“Our counsel once more to Alhaji Lai Mohammed is that he should advice
himself and learn to be truthful and honest. At his age, he should shed
this narcissist proclivity of always trying to make himself the issue
and desist from fabricating lies and dishing such to the nation.

“In any case, we wish to restate that no matter the antics of the APC
and its spokesperson, the PDP will remain focused on issues. We would
continue to offer constructive and credible opposition, while firmly
holding the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government accountable in
the running of the affairs of the nation.

Our handicap here however, is that we have in our hands, a ruling party
and a government who are unable to articulate any policy direction in
the economy or any other critical sector of the polity since its
assumption of power in May. Instead, what we are witnessing, sadly, are
administrative confusion, abuse of process, constitutional violations,
political witch-hunt and sleazes in government quarters.

Signed:

Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary