The Peoples Democratic Party has come out to state that President Goodluck Jonathan should be commended for preventing Islamist sect, Boko Haram from taking over half of the country.
The party stated thus via a press briefing granted by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Monday, January 19, 2015.
Metuh said President Jonathan was not responsible the terror attacks in the North East, and has been trying to contain it.
In his words: “The problem that we have in the North-East to deal with is insurgency; it is not the making of this government. This government has tried as much as possible to contain it.
“I must proclaim, every now and then, Nigerians encourage us by saying that if not for the character, candour and the personality of the President, these insurgents would have overrun more than half of Nigeria.
“We would have been under occupation of terrorists if not for the determination, the style and the character and personality of the president. He has been able to offer a ceasefire, dialogue and other things to engage them. He has been trying all sorts of methods and engaging them in serious warfare and Nigerians have noted that if not for his character, Boko Haram would have overrun half of Nigeria,” he added.
Metuh further hailed President Jonathan’s fairness to the North. He said: “Jonathan’s administration has been very fair to the North in terms of projects, political appointments and the establishment of almajiri schools which have improved education in the region.
“The present administration has done a lot more for the three zones in the North than any of the administrations before him in the areas of agriculture, education, roads, railways and many more.
He also spoke on PDP’s chances at the polls: “The PDP will win in the North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-South, South-East and South-West. The All Progressives Congress will not win in any of the zones and our victory will be very convincing,” he stated.
On the perceived inactivity of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in PDP’s campaigns, Metuh had this to say: “Concerning our leader, our Baba Obasanjo, we have big respect for him. This party gave him the ticket that brought him to power and brought him back to reckoning.
“Some of our achievements were made under Obasanjo. We can’t discuss him in the public. We will continue to urge him to support us. We want his support.”
