PDP in low-key 17th anniversary celebration

• Says top members left for fear of competition
THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday marked its 17th anniversary without a sign of celebration in its Wadata Plaza national secretariat, Abuja.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who listed what he termed the achievements of the party within its 17 years of existence, however disclosed that many leading PDP members defected because of the fear of competition.

“Some of those who defected could not just cope with the level of competition in the party; and some members felt that they were not well protected when they sought assistance, others left because we lost election, others for selfish reason while some others left when they felt they were honestly not accommodated in the party.”

Metuh was the only member of the 16-man National Working Committee (NWC) on a day the party announced that it was marking its 17 ‎years of existence.
‎
On the causes of its loss in the last general election, Metuh said that the statement credited to the acting chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, Haliru Bello, to the effect that disrespect for party rules caused its loss was not the position of the party.

He, however, refused to provide the party’s position on the reason for the dismal performance of PDP in the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

Listing the achievements of the party, Metuh said: “We recall with pride that the founding fathers of the PDP are heroes who rose to the challenge, stood up for millions of other citizens, confronted the military and restored genuine democracy, national unity and stability, entrenched the rule of law and enlarged the political space we all enjoy today.

“Over the years, the PDP has shown strength as the only Nigerian political party that is completely owned and controlled by the Nigerian people; with structures in all the nooks and crannies of the country; and where no individual or group of individuals can claim ownership or allowed to appropriate the interest of the generality of the members.”