The Peoples Democratic Party has urged all its estranged members to fully utilize the window of dialogue and reconciliation offered it and avoid playing into the hands of those who do not wish the nation or her democracy well. The party also said the on-going muted skirmishes and well organized theatrics aimed at portraying the President in bad light were not necessary because as members of one big family, no challenge was insurmountable.
” This tactics is antithetical to democracy but not an unfamiliar rule of engagement. However, it is important that we avoid over-stretching it and shutter not, glaring overtures to reason so as not to play into the waiting hands of the desperate, wishing to incite the people and destroy our common destiny,” said a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh.
The statement regretted that the problem in the party was a challenge which could be resolved within the ambit of the crisis resolution mechanism of the Peoples Democratic Party but was being exaggerated by some politicians desperately looking for quick photo-ups through sensationalism in the media.
” We wish to assure our members therefore that we are still capable of resolving our challenges and urge them to be more committed to our progress. We shall emerge stronger.”
It added that the nation would benefit the more should detractors of the President pick him or the Party on issues of development so as to enrich our practice of democracy. ” Very unfortunately, the easiest way to gain prominence today is to attack the President and the leadership of his party, not on issues of governance or on alternative direction of governance but on the pedestrian that borders on sheer mudslinging.”
It regretted further, ” while the inconsequential makes the banner, the essentials and the substantial in the consistent though quiet transformation of the nation are tucked away in obscure ridders. The media is a critical building block of democracy and the Nigerian media has stood firm across the decades. It must not relent .”
” In all these,” the statement added, ” our firm support for the President as the leader and symbol of our party in government remains total. We shall neither waver nor allow narrow sentiments stand in the way of the absolute resolve of our great party to better the lots of all Nigerians”