'Why Metuh Is The Target'- PDP

The Office of the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted the incessant and unnecessary attacks on the person of the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh targeted to cow him out of his statutory function as the mouthpiece of the party.

This Office however wishes to restate unequivocally, that the National Publicity Secretary is not deterred as he is now, more than ever before, determined to ensure that PDP provides robust and credible opposition, which is inevitable to further grow our democracy.

A credible intelligence information available to us has shown that apart from instigating some unsuspecting persons within our party to peddle lies and insults against Chief Metuh, there is a well-coordinated assault by anti-PDP forces who have engaged heavily paid consultants masquerading as writers and columnists, in addition to social media hirelings, some of who use pseudonyms to attack him for daring to speak out against the undemocratic actions and tendencies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.

While the National Publicity Secretary is fully aware of the challenges that come with his new role of providing firm, issue-based opposition, we decry the resort to dirty politics by the anti-PDP forces, instead of focusing on the issues, as not only shameful but also a despicable act of cowardice.

Whereas the PDP Workers Welfare Association has since apologised over allegations it made against the PDP National Working Committee, and particularly the National Publicity Secretary, the anti-PDP elements, shamed by that development, are still relentless in their unholy enterprise against the National Publicity Secretary and other leaders of the party.

While we alert the public to therefore expect further attacks on Chief Metuh in the media, this Office wishes to state our position on some of the tissues of lies being peddled by these anti-PDP forces.

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to place on record that at no time did the National Publicity Secretary receive any money or monies from the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan before, during or after the 2015 campaigns for media and publicity functions or for any other reason whatsoever. We have however noted that those who started this allegation have since apologised and we want the general public to take copious note of this.

Another ridiculous allegation against Chief Metuh of working against the former President during election is laughable because the same source had accused him in the past of rigging the March 28, 2015 election in Anambra state for the PDP candidate and we wonder who the candidate was.

Instead, it is incontrovertible that Chief Metuh was the major voice within and outside the party structure amplifying and defending the achievements and policies of the Jonathan's government in the various sectors before and during the campaigns to the extent that discerning observers had to enquire whether he speaks for the President or the party.

Though, we were saddened by recent unfortunate disagreements in our party, the National Publicity Secretary is satisfied with the stance of the workers' association in apologizing to the National Working Committee. In this regard, Chief Metuh in his usual forbearing deportment has forgiven those within our ranks who made unfounded allegations against him at the time tempers were high.

What is paramount to him at the moment is the task of sustaining a strong, credible and issue-based opposition and the collective mission of repositioning our great party to regain power at the center in 2019, especially as the change the APC is bent on performing appears more cosmetic and imaginary than real.

The National Publicity Secretary therefore pledges to remain dedicated now, more than ever before, as he commits to redoubling his efforts, energy and vision towards serving this great party until the end of his tenure in March 2016.

For the anti-PDP forces, Chief Metuh counsels them to retrace their steps and desist from needless mudslinging, unnecessary name-calling, insults and bickering, factors that scare away a lot of decent and patriotic persons from politics.

We restate that Nigeria belongs to all of us and there is no way the PDP as the only true national party that nurtured and sustained democracy in the last 16 years will sit back and watch while democratic principles and tenets thereof are constantly and ceaselessly breached.

Signed:
Richard Ihediwa
Special Assistant to
National Publicity Secretary
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