Nigerians deserve better from political class

As campaigns for the 2015 general elections gather momentum, the  national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that Nigerians deserve better treatment from the political class.

It, therefore, said that the elections must be based on performance, political ideology, as well as political manifestoes and agenda for national development.

The party, which said this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Sunday, also called on politicians not to heat up the polity with their utterances.

Metuh said, “Nigerians deserve better from the political class.  The 2015 general elections must therefore be based on performance, political ideology as well as manifestoes and agenda for national development and not on propaganda, accusations and counter accusations that heat up the system, divide our citizens and erode our values as a people.”

He also explained that the party was committed to what he described as “issue-based campaign” during the 2015 general elections.

Metuh said the party’s action on the need to devote its campaigns to issues, was predicated on its desire to preserve peace and unity of the country.

Apart from this, he also said the action would help douse the tension in the polity, and that its campaigns would also devoid of statements capable of inflaming passions and overheating the system.

Metuh said, “This position stemmed from the party’s irrevocable stand on the unity and stability of the nation as well as to protect its fragile democracy and ensure that a conducive atmosphere is maintained for national development and well-being of all citizens in keeping with its manifesto and visions of the founding fathers.

“As a highly responsible and foremost democratic political organization in the country, founded on strong ideological background and principle of social justice, commanding the largest followership in the country, we cannot afford to allow a drift to politics of propaganda, insults and incendiary statements that threaten our democracy and corporate existence as a nation.

“Our national interest and welfare of our citizens irrespective of religion, ethnic and political affiliations remain paramount in our overall agenda and must be upheld at all times.

“We must therefore strive to bring down the tension in the land by redirecting the nation’s political discourse to productive issues that reinforce our unity, promote understanding and peaceful co-existence, creating the enabling environment not only for peaceful general elections in 2015 but also for the overall survival of our democracy and stability of our dear nation.”

Consequently, he said that the PDP leadership has directed all officials and members of the party at all levels to continue to focus on the numerous visible achievements of PDP-led administrations at the federal, state and local government levels, and the successes recorded through the implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the present administration.

While assuring that the party would leave no stone unturned to ensure the continued delivery of its mandate, Metuh charged all elected and appointed officers of the ruling party to continue in the prudent management of resources for the benefit of the people.