APC, PDP Manifestoes Present Different Roadmaps - Gbajabiamila

The Minority Leader of House of Representatives, Hon.

Femi Gbajabiamila Thursday explained that the manifestoes of the leading political parties, namely the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) were markedly different despite the seeming similarities.

Gbajabiamila made the clarification while addressing the European Political Counsellors Working Group on the APC Manifesto and the party's argument for change in Abuja.

The APC leader said: 'Similarities if any in the two manifestos are just on paper.

We differ in our roadmaps to achieving the manifestos.

PDP may talk about free education but this same party once had a sitting President who set up a private university and did not show interest for quality public education, same party produced a sitting President who was once a lecturer but now attached little importance to education.

' He said the approach of APC in its manifesto on power is different and believes that power generation should be removed from exclusive list of the Federal Government, stressing that under APC government, states would be allowed to generate and distribute power according to the growing economic needs of their states.

He further challenged the international community to request that Nigerian government and its leadership defend its earlier assertion that Boko Haram sponsors are within its government and had infiltrated its rank.

"I don't know how far it is true that government now has its own Boko Haram for its own political advantage.

Unfortunately this is same government that said Boko Haram members are part of its government and with all the resources at government disposal, they could not be tamed, everyone here must question government".

Gbajabiamila also insisted that political debates must be institutionalised in our political system.

"We must insist on political debates.
Sometimes ago, no one knew Babatunde Fashola; he was just a Chief of Staff but his articulation during the gubernatorial debate endeared him to Lagosians.

APC in its manifesto believes that you do not need to be popular by name only to be in government,your knowledge of issues of governance counts.

" The Head of Political and Communication of European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Henry Prankerd, promised to support Nigeria in ensuring transparency in the coming 2015 general election.

The session was attended by Political Counsellors of Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands and Belgium.

The concern that Nigerians see no difference between APC and PDP Manifestos dominated the discourse at the international session.

SAINT MUGAGA, ABUJA