Lagos Assembly berates Yoruba leaders on Jonathan's endorsement

LAGOS State House of Assembly on Wednesday berated some Yoruba leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan's second-term bid.

To the House, such as endorsement was ridiculous  'another in a series of paid endorsements by President Jonathan.'

'It is ridiculous and laughable for the leaders to have described Jonathan as someone with exceptional leadership qualities,' the House said in reference to the reasons adduced by the PDP South-West caucus for endorsing Jonathan at their meeting in Lagos on Tuesday.

A statement signed by The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity,  Segun Olulade, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the endorsement underscored the deep-seated fears and trepidation in the hearts of leaders of the ruling party ahead of the 2015 general elections.

They noted that while the endorsement was no threat to the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates in the coming elections, the poor performance rating of the Jonathan administration in addressing the various challenges facing the country, as well as the incessant crises that had rocked the PDP structures nationally and in many states of the federation, had made its leaders to become more desperate, 'making them resort to crude ploys aimed at cajoling Nigerians and the rest of the world that all is well with the country.'

The lawmakers said Nigerians were not only tired of the PDP but were also 'well prepared to carry the banner of the APC as a better alternative to the ruling PDP.'

'It is ridiculous and laughable for the PDP to have described Jonathan as someone with exceptional leadership qualities in spite of the huge failure of his administration in moving the country forward,' the lawmakers said through the statement.

Reacting to accusation by the Chairman of Caretaker Committee of the South-West PDP, Ishola Filani, who accused the ACN of poaching PDP members to field them as candidates during elections, the lawmakers said the allegation was frivolous.

Contrary to the allegation, according to him, 'it is the members of PDP who migrate to the ACN when they realise that the PDP does not have any credibility or integrity whatsoever that could help them realise their political aspirations.

'PDP members often turn to ACN to seek refuge and political survival having realised the reactionary and retrogressive tendencies of the PDP.'

The lawmakers added that ACN, and indeed the APC, would continue to welcome all repentant members of the PDP to its fold in as much as they are ready to conform with the progressive posture of the party.