The leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr John Oyegun, National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lai Mohammed and other newly elected officers for their emergence at their party’s National Convention”.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Saturday also told the new leadership to “ensure an issue based opposition that will purposefully and constructively engage and challenge the PDP with decency and maturity as prescribed by democratic tenets and principles”.
He further stated that Nigerians deserved a vibrant and patriotic opposition driven only by the national interest.
The PDP also urged the new APC leadership to “put the unity and welfare of Nigerians ahead of other considerations and jettison all divisive tendencies including unguarded statements that overheat the polity and pitch Nigerians against one another.
The ruling party, however, asserted its pre-eminent position and widest acceptance among Nigerians across board, insisting that “the new leadership of the APC posed no threat at all.
The ruling party said it remained the only party that had continued to be committed to the national interest, as well as providing level playing ground for all Nigerians to achieve their aspirations irrespective of religious, ethnic and gender considerations.
In his acceptance speech as the chairman of the APC, Mr Oyegun called for members unity, stressing the need for party members to work hand in hand to accomplish the task ahead.
He pledged that in 2015, the APC would provide Nigerians with a visionary, dedicated and people-oriented leadership that would liberate the nation from PDP’s rule of poverty and oppression.
“Under the stewardship of the APC, Nigeria will progress and Nigerians will thrive. This is our sacred pledge to Nigerians tonight,” he said, while addressing the crowd at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Friday.
