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Metuh Insists PDP Has Challenges Not Factions

The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisah Metuh has denied any form of split within the party claiming that “what we … Continue reading Metuh Insists PDP Has Challenges Not Factions


The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisah Metuh has denied any form of split within the party claiming that “what we have now is challenges”.

Metuh, who spoke from the Abuja studio of Channels Television during Sunrise Daily, said the challenges are arising from differences on how the party should run its affairs.

He however maintained that the challenges facing the party are common because of its nature.

“We are a big party, we are a large family, it is common that in big associations, even in families, companies you do have differences, you do have challenges” he said.

Metuh also welcomed the reconciliatory move by former heads of state, retired Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Olusegun Obasanjo, two former party chairmen in persons of Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali and the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Party, Tony Anenih.

He noted that the National Working Committee of the party (NWC) is solely focused on supporting the government of President Goodluck Jonathan in ensuring that Nigerians get the benefits of democracy from the government they put in place to rule them.

He described the sealing of the Baraje-led party office as “an interpretation of a court order” maintaining that “there is nothing wrong with the decision”.

Metuh said the factional party never existed adding that we went to court and obtained an injunction that all parties should maintain “status quo antebellum”, meaning that “we should maintain the status before the crisis and that people should not take actions to change the position”.

He then noted that “if you open an office, you are not maintaining the status quo antebellum. If you go ahead to hold meetings, you are not holding the status quo antebellum. So it is an interpretation of a court order and there is nothing wrong with the decision”.

He further welcomed the differences of party members from the state chapters with the NWC but was quick to add that they went to court to address some of the issues because “to carry it further will be dangerous to the growth of the party”.

Meddlesome Interlopers

Metuh described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “meddlesome interlopers” claiming that “they have no reason, whatsoever to interfere in our affairs”.

He warned that the feelings and thoughts of the newly formed party “is insignificant” and is “of no effect whatsoever”.

He further said “this is an opposition party that has not been able to sustain any kind of opposition except abuse, except hauling insults at the president or the leadership of the ruling party” adding that “they have nothing that they have offered, they have never debated any issue, they have never offered any alternative”.

He also noted that “they have no other platform to discuss except to interfere in the  internal affairs of the party”.

He went further to call the APC a tribalistic party, formed by individuals that are built on the fiefdom of a state, warning that “issues of corruption and tribal and ethnic politics cannot come together and form national interest”.