Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
\nChief Tony Anenih, sounded confident yesterday that, in spite of the
\npredictions of doom about Nigeria, the ruling party is looking beyond 2015
\nand even 2019 in its efforts to faithfully sustain a stable, functional
\nand democratic nation.<\/p>\n
Anenih, in a statement titled: \u201cNigeria is stronger than it has even been\u201d
\nissued in Abuja to commemorate 15 years of uninterrupted Fourth Republic
\nDemocracy, said the PDP-led Federal Government under President Goodluck
\nJonathan has been upholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic
\ninteraction and expression in the country since stepping in the saddle.<\/p>\n
He declared that despite the security challenges occasioned by the scourge
\nof terrorism, Nigeria remains stronger that it has ever been.<\/p>\n
The statement reads: \u201cMay 29, 2014 marks 15 years since Nigeria returned
\nto democracy. I congratulate all Nigerians on this important occasion,
\nespecially since our nation is now well into her longest running
\ndemocratic dispensation since independence in 1960.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s Democracy Day falls within a period when, arising from the
\nscourge of terrorism, some people question the strength of our democracy
\nand unity. Without hesitation, I assure all Nigerians that, despite the
\nchallenges we are facing today, Nigeria is stronger than it has ever been.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me express how grateful we, in the Peoples Democratic Party, are to
\nour fellow compatriots that they have entrusted our great party with
\nsteering the ship of state since our nation\u2019s return to democracy in 1999.
\nIt has been a great privilege and a momentous undertaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd though\u2014as with all human endeavours\u2014we have had differences with our
\nfellow citizens on the other side of the political divide, our on-going
\ndemocratic journey is proof that the PDP continues to faithfully discharge
\nits foremost duty to our country, which is sustaining a stable, functional
\nand democratic State.<\/p>\n
\u201cIndeed, in its 15 years at the helm of affairs of our great nation, the
\nPDP has created an atmosphere that allows total freedom of expression,
\ndissent and the greatest level of inclusive political participation ever
\nrecorded in our country. A case in point is that never before has Nigeria
\nseen the high number of women in senior elective and appointive positions
\nas obtains today under the PDP\u2019s leadership<\/p>\n
\u201cMoreover, it is to the credit of the President Goodluck Ebele
\nJonathan-led PDP government that this ambience of democratic freedom has
\nencouraged the most combative opposition rhetoric ever experienced in
\nNigeria\u2019s history. President Jonathan has also demonstrated respect for
\nthe rule of law by his non-interference in judicial, legislative and
\nelectoral matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIronically, our liberal and exceptionally tolerant President has been
\nvilified for promoting and protecting the very democratic freedoms that
\nothers are using unfairly against the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe that as it may, certain that we are on the side of what is right by
\nupholding the sanctity of unfettered democratic interaction and expression
\nin our country, the PDP is looking beyond 2015 and even 2019 when the
\nFourth Republic will be twenty years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason for our confidence stems from the fact that the PDP has always
\nbeen the party of the people, for the people and by the people.
\nFurthermore, our unequalled experience in successfully piloting the
\naffairs of State is what ensured that, for the first time in the course of
\nNigeria\u2019s history, under the PDP we witnessed the smooth transfer of power
\nfrom one civilian president to another; and the successful constitutional
\nsuccession politics after the unfortunate and untimely death of our dear
\nPresident Umaru Musa Yar\u2019Adua in office.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition, the PDP has been responsible for the strategic restructuring
\nof a largely state-run economy to a free-market economy, thereby
\nengendering greater human development, free enterprise and irreversible
\neconomic expansion. It is important to note that pursuing policies that
\nare necessary for inclusive economic growth has further guaranteed our
\npolitical and democratic stability.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides, the rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for 2013, which
\nshowed an 89 percent increase in the estimated size of Nigeria\u2019s economy,
\nmaking it the top economy in Africa, has also seen our debt-to-GDP-ratio,
\nshrink to 11 per cent. In the past four years, Nigeria has remained the
\nchoice destination for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs has been widely noted, the success of the World Economic Forum on
\nAfrica (WEFA) held recently in Abuja is an affirmation from the
\ninternational community that Nigeria\u2019s democracy is on a firm footing
\ndespite security challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cLest we forget, before the advent of the first PDP government in 1999,
\nofficial statistics placed the number of telephone lines in Nigeria at
\njust about 500,000. Today, the Nigerian Communications Commission reports
\nthat there are well over 120 million active telephone lines in Nigeria.
\nThe benefits and the multiplier effects to our economy are phenomenal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to point out that in the PDP we are continually
\nstrengthening the mechanism for internal democracy and would urge all
\nother parties to also do the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, as we mark the anniversary of our return to Democracy, all
\nNigerians must stand together against the forces that seek to endanger our
\nfreedoms, unity and security.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, sounded confident yesterday that, in spite of the predictions of doom about Nigeria, the ruling…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n