WITH the results of the National Assembly election indicating that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not have the overwhelming majority in the national legislature as it currently enjoys, the leadership of the political grouping has launched a fresh initiative, reaching out to the opposition with the Government of National Unity (GNU) carrot. The party has also embarked on last-ditch efforts nationwide to win next Saturday’s presidential election.

Besides, President Goodluck Jonathan has commended Nigerians for voting en masse for the PDP in the last Saturday’s National Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the acting national chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed said it was willing to work with the opposition after the elections. He noted that already some of the opposition parties were working with PDP.

He stated: ‘’On the issue of ganging up, this is not the first time. It was tried in 2007 and it did not work. It was tried at the beginning of this election, it did not work. The choice of leaders in this country is vested in the people of this country and the people of this country have shown over and over again that PDP is the party of choice. No amount of gang up will stop PDP. However, PDP has a policy of all inclusiveness. In 2007 when we won, we were working with some parties in a Government of National Unity. This time around, too, our doors are open to all parties who want to cooperate with us to move this country forward and we will be amenable to talks with any party that shares our aspiration of free and fair election, national unity and move the nation forward economically, and there are many parties like that.

“Right now, we have forty-five political parties that are working with PDP because they believe in the politics of PDP and they believe in the candidature of Goodluck Jonathan. They have declared openly. They met us in Nasarawa. We met some in Owerri and in all the places where we went round, they came to indicate their desire to work with us to move the country forward. So, we are not afraid of any gang up. Out of 63 political parties, if you add 45 to PDP, that is 46. Even if it is one party, one vote, we have the majority.’’

Asked what the fate of some highly placed members of the party arrested over alleged electoral malpractices would be, he said: ‘’It is our policy and belief and the president has already directed; anybody involved in crime, whoever he is, should face the full weight of the law. It does not matter from which party he is. Anybody who commits a crime should be treated according to the law. Dispute resolution is a continuous operation in PDP. Right from the end of the last election up to this date, we are working on dispute management and we have been very successful in managing our internal disputes. The one in Ogun State is not different. We are working on it. We are working on it and all hands are on deck.’’

For allegedly being in possession of unauthorised arm and ammunition and voters’ cards while last Saturday’s National Assembly elections was in progress, a member of the Ogun State Executive Council and the State Commissioner for Education, Yemi Akinwoni was yesterday arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of engaging in acts capable of disrupting public peace.

The commissioner was arrested by eagle-eye security operatives with six others within Ondo State at a spot near the state’s boundary with Ogun in company of six others who were also alleged to be in possession of wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

The accused who had been in police custody since their arrest last Saturday at Araromi Estate in Ore, Odigbo Local Council of Ondo State which shared boundary with Ogun State, were facing charges of electoral offences which included flouting the movement restriction order and illegal possession of firearms.

The PDP national chairman added: “Without any interference from government. We in PDP are particularly glad that the president has fulfilled his promise because it has given us the opportunity to prove what we have always said that PDP can always win in a free and fair election. It has always been our stand that the hue and cry of rigging that out opponents were using as alibi for their loss, now that Jega has delivered, that alibi has been removed. It is clear for all to see that PDP has remained the party of choice among the electorate in Nigeria. This commitment of Mr. President to free and fair election is commendable’’.

Meanwhile, the president has commended Nigerians for turning out and voting en masse for the party in the last Saturday’s National Assembly elections. In a statement issued by the Director, Media and Publicity of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Mallam Abba Dabo, the president noted that the support given to PDP was a confirmation of its acceptance by Nigerians.

And the South East Zone of the PDP yesterday called on Ndigbo across the country to troop out en masse and join other Nigerians to vote for President Jonathan in next Saturday’s presidential election. It said the success of the president was fundamental to the progress of Ndigbo and Nigeria’s stability.

But the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) said in the contrary that Jonathan will not serve the interest of Ndigbo, saying that his emergence would alter the zoning arrangement for the leadership of the country.

Addressing a press conference in Enugu yesterday, governorship candidate of the party, Osita Okechukwu urged Ndigbo to massively vote General Muhammadu Buhari, saying he would restructure the country and initiate action to amend the constitution.

The zonal leadership of the PDP while addressing the media has also expressed sadness over the alleged anti-party activities perpetrated by some of its members in the zone who clearly worked against the interest of the party’s candidates in the National Assembly elections and threatened to sanction them according to the party’s constitution.

They specifically accused the Minister of Interior , Emmanuel Iheanacho of anti-party activities during Saturday’s elections, saying it was unacceptable to the party.

National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, Chief Olisa Metuh who briefed reporters in Enugu, said that President Jonathan “is the best candidate for the presidency of our dear country at this point in time”, adding that with Jonathan as president the interest of Ndigbo would be best protected in the affairs of the nation.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44565:pdp-dangles-unity-govt-carrot-before-rivals&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

Opposition needs to be very careful in how it handles this. AD, ANPP both withered away due to foolish alliances with the PDP.

Be very cautious.

WTF is GNU. Can we have a strong opposition for once in this country.

Say NO to GNU

ACN tinubu def not falling for it.

GNU? omg lmfao are they serious?

GNU the fuk it dat

LAWD!!! Are we never going to have an opposition party in Nigeria to curb PDP's excesses?? Must we have a one-party state They simply should not accept it. If they do, then, [b]aluta continu[/b]a!!!

Ko ni ragba' fun GNU . . .

GNU ko, NUGA ni

@fstranger: Suppose the offer is $5 billion/year worth of federal projects in the SW and an overturning of the likely rigged elections in Kwara. And suppose you believe that the PDP would not renege. Wold you say no to that deal?

^^ hell naw!!

Everybody stay on your effing lane!

ekt_bear:

@fstranger: Suppose the offer is $5 billion/year worth of federal projects in the SW and an overturning of the likely rigged elections in Kwara. And suppose you believe that the PDP would not renege. Wold you say no to that deal?

Where is the money come from in the first place?

And why the special deal for the SW?

Kilode?!:

^^ hell naw!!

Everybody stay on your effing lane!

Why? Why is this a bad idea? We cannot be the one to save Nigeria. If the rest of Nigeria wants a one party state and is unwilling to fight against it, why should we stick out our necks for them?

why must it always be unity in this country at all cost i mean no federalism?

ekt_bear:

@fstranger: Suppose the offer is $5 billion/year worth of federal projects in the SW and an overturning of the likely rigged elections in Kwara. And suppose you believe that the PDP would not renege. Wold you say no to that deal?

im not frstranger but hell no- SW dont need any surplus in federal stuvs government should do what is suppose to do for all regions.
no deals

Federal government just needs to take hands off SW. so SW can get focused and back to the basics.

Beware of Ijaws bearing gift.

Anyway, I hope PDP punishes the SW. No more federal projects like they did in Lagos. Lets see how the SW survives.

^^^ SW doesnt want federal projects we want PRIVATE ONES.

the only Federal thing they need to fix is federal high ways that lead to the niger delta and north.

GNU ko, Igunuko ni

lol ^

sbeezy8:

why must it always be unity in this country at all cost i mean no federalism?

im not frstranger but hell no- SW dont need any surplus in federal stuvs government should do what is suppose to do for all regions.
no deals

Federal government just needs to take hands off SW. so SW can get focused and back to the basics.

Why are we worried about other regions when they don't even seem worried for themselves? If they will not fight and build a legitimate democracy, why should we do it for them?

And I meant infrastructure projects by saying that $5 billion a year, btw.

EzeUche:

Anyway, I hope PDP punishes the SW. No more federal projects like they did in Lagos. Lets see how the SW survives.

Nah, if GEJ wins, he's gonna develop Lagos in particular.

EzeUche:

Beware of Ijaws bearing gift.

I'm not worried about him, I'm worried about the puppet master controlling him, OBJ.

ekt_bear:

Why are we worried about other regions when they don't even seem worried for themselves? If they will not fight and build a legitimate democracy, why should we do it for them?

And I meant infrastructure projects by saying that $5 billion a year, btw.

You keep talking forkry, again, look at these map. You are not helping anybody and nobody needs your help, it is about Nigeria, not SW:

ekt_bear:

Why are we worried about other regions when they don't even seem worried for themselves? If they will not fight and build a legitimate democracy, why should we do it for them?

And I meant infrastructure projects by saying that $5 billion a year, btw.

im saying if the rest of the country want unity government no federalism etc then SW should stick to opposition this GEJ cannnot ride that unity train forever. his own people will regret him after if therr no federalism

disunity is always going to happen between north se and ss nc - when there is no dumb yoruba person mediating say let that ish play out.

If Tinubu learned anything in dealing with OBJ it is that even when you are denied what is due to you your inner strength can propel you far ahead than if you had that easy "gift". Nobody needs to be negotiating $5 billion or any amount for the SW. If it truly belongs to the SW, then we must stand up in broad daylight and demand it, not in the back alley.

The rules for revenue sharing are clear enough anyway, and has nothing to do with party affliation.

Plus, Nigeria's political development needs to do away with this idea of GNU. In the first place, it kills off the much needed negotiation over this nation called Nigeria that needs to take place in broad daylight. In the second place, it is merely smoke and mirrors - look how well it worked for GEJ when Yar'adua became incapacitated.

ekt_bear:

@fstranger: Suppose the offer is $5 billion/year worth of federal projects in the SW and an overturning of the likely rigged elections in Kwara. And suppose you believe that the PDP would not renege. Wold you say no to that deal?

ekt_bear:

Why? Why is this a bad idea? We cannot be the one to save Nigeria. If the rest of Nigeria wants a one party state and is unwilling to fight against it, why should we stick out our necks for them?

Been there done that. They can shove the money, how about we pay them to stay in out for 30 years.

Them = military-politician-strong center ideologue

sbeezy8:

im saying if the rest of the country want unity government no federalism etc then SW should stick to opposition this GEJ cannnot ride that unity train forever. his own people will regret him after if therr no federalism

disunity is always going to happen between north se and ss nc - when there is no dumb yoruba person mediating say let that ish play out.

Everybody wants true federalism, but there must be ordered steps and alliances to get there; so its not out of place.

Kilode?!:

Been there done that. They can shove the money, how about we pay them to stay in out for 30 years.

Thats a joke right?

Beaf:

Thats a joke right?

I don modify jare, dem wan make I vex

Beaf:

You keep talking forkry, again, look at these map. You are not helping anybody and nobody needs your help, it is about Nigeria, not SW:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/world/11/nigeria_election_toggle_maps/img/nigeria_wealth_624.gif

This is where they sourced the data from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nigerian_states_by_GDP
You can compute a sum of GDP per region, and see that ours is #1 or #2 (and if #2, behind the SS).

Here is a list of states by population: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nigerian_states_by_population

You can again divide, and see that ours GDP per capita is either #1 or #2. So I don't see what exactly we need from Nigeria. All we need is good government and limited interference. In other words, if we fix the roads in the SW, fix power, use our allocations prudently we'll be golden.

What are you talking about now?

Isn't it GEJ's manifesto to open up the Nigerian economy. Government doesn't need to develop jack. They need to fulfill their responsibilities in infrastructure, appropriate regulation and get the heck out of the way.

Who do you think buys this kind of bull anyway!!!

Beaf:

Nah, if GEJ wins, he's gonna develop Lagos in particular.

By the way, govt of national unity means that several parties form the govt, its not anti-federalism.

Kilode?!:

Been there done that. They can shove the money, how about we pay them to stay in out for 30 years.

Them = military-politician-strong center ideologue

Fair enough. I understand your perspective. If OBJ and these military boys GEJ associates with were dead, I'd not mind cutting the deal. But perhaps you are right.

Anyway, if Tinubu rejects the deal, he had BETTER cut a deal with the CPC and destroy the PDP next week. If we want to battle, then no half-measures.

^^^

Isnt it too late to cut a deal with CPC?


Tinubu and Buhari messed up. The train has left the station, there is no way to stop it now


Sai GEJ for the next four years!

Same smoke and mirrors that Yar'dua used to decapitate ANPP. There is nothing like a government of national unity - it is total BS.

Beaf:

By the way, govt of national unity means that several parties form the govt, its not anti-federalism.