The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, February 6, 2015 condemned certain protests by a group Save Democracy Youth Movement (SDYM), which called for the resignation of Minister of Petroleum, Allison Diezani-Madueke and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance and the coordinating Minister for the Economy.
Speaking via a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP said the call by the group, which it claims is sponsored by the opposition to heat up the polity ahead of the general elections.
The statement read:
Our attention has been drawn to a text message being circulated by a nebulous group under the name, Save Democracy Youth Movement , calling on the Minister of Petroleum and the Minister of Finance to tender their resignations before the 11th of February 2015, citing unfounded allegations as reason.
We have information that this unwarranted attack is sponsored by the opposition which also has plans to follow up the text messages with sponsored protests in Abuja and Lagos to further heat-up the system ahead of the February 14, 2015 general elections.
From all indications, this senseless attack is aimed at demonizing our women folk who have been playing key roles in the laudable achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Indeed, it bears the full imprints of the opposition which has not hidden its aversion to women holding important positions in our country, in keeping with their ideology which prescribes that no woman, no matter how brilliant should be heard or seen.
Furthermore, we invite Nigerians to note the timing of the text message and the planned protest, merely few days before the February 14 election date. This leaves no one in doubt about the plot by the opposition to stir up civil unrests ahead of the polls as part of the greater agenda to scuttle the electoral process.
In any case, we wish to inform the opposition that as the largest political party in the country, we will no longer continue to condone unjustified sponsored attacks on our party and/or our elected and appointed officers. The fact that we have remained calm and peaceful despite the numerous provocations does not in anyway suggest that we will allow ourselves to be cowed by the enemies of peace, unity and stability of our dear nation.
We remain confident that our Presidential flagbearer, President Goodluck Jonathan is running on his enviable record of performance and achievements in virtually all sectors of our national life for which the electorate are eager to demonstrate their appreciation by re-electing him come February 14th.
We therefore call on all lovers of democracy and the security agencies to note the sinister agenda of the opposition and hold them responsible should there be any breach of the peace before, during and after the elections.
