The recent visit by governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to former President Goodluck Jonathan has been described by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a direct acceptance of the successes recorded by the outgone PDP administration.
The PDP reaction to the visit was contained in a statement issued on Sunday (11/22/20) by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.
But in a quick response, the APC said that the PDP was surprised by the visit and counseled the opposition party to focus on picking itself up rather than chasing shadows.
Mr Yekini Nabena, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, presented the party’s position in a counter statement on Sunday in Abuja while reacting to the PDP’s criticism of the visit.
Ologbondiyan had noted in his statement that the visit to Jonathan by a delegation, led by Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Gov. of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, further affirmed that Nigeria, as a nation, was better under the governance of the PDP.
He further contended that the visit was a clear endorsement of the acceptability of the PDP administration.
“It is evident that the Jonathan administration succeeded in office basically because our party understands the nuances of our nation.
“This we translated into people-oriented policies and programmes, in line with the manifesto of our party, to make life comfortable for Nigerians.
“This visit to Jonathan by the APC governors is a direct acceptance of the successes recorded by our party in building a strong nation with a virile economy that was rated as one of the fastest growing economies of the world.”
Ologbondiyan said that the visit was, therefore, a subtle step by APC governors to come into the corridors of the PDP in agreement that the opposition party held the solution to the myriads of problems confronting Nigeria.
He said that the PDP, therefore, saw the visit by APC governors as an apology by the ruling party to the PDP and Nigerians over the allegations deployed by the APC to grab power.
Ologbondiyan advised Nigerians to be watchful of the strategies of the APC, adding that for the PDP, the unity, stability, progress and development of the nation remained paramount.
The APC governors reportedly met with Jonathan in Abuja on Friday on his 63rd birthday. The reason for the meeting was not disclosed.
Reports had it that some of the governors at the meeting included David Umahi of Ebonyi, who recently defected to the APC from PDP, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa.
Nabena, in his reaction to the PDP statement, contended that “the PDP is obviously rattled and disoriented by the recent courtesy visit by some governors of the APC to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“At a time when the PDP and its leadership are grappling with a crisis of confidence, one would expect the failed opposition party to focus on picking itself up.”
He further stated that as a party for all progressives, the APC on its part will continue to consolidate on its national appeal and acceptance.
