PDP youth group blasts Jonathan over 2015 posters

 OLUSOLA FABIYI

Youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to resign if he is bereft of ideas instead of denying sponsorship of posters for his second term, which surfaced in Abuja on New Year’s day.

The group, in an electronic mail on Thursday, said since the the President assumed office, he had not shown any competence to solve the several problems bedevilling the nation.

The statement was signed by its Publicity Director, Comrade Bala Usman, and its National Director, Mr. Fidelis Uzoka.

Jonathan’s 2015 posters were seen in several places including the Peoples Democratic Party headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Though Jonathan has denied being behind the posters, opposition political parties and groups have continued to doubt the President’s claim.

The statement was entitled, ‘What will Jonathan gain by digging the grave of our great party, the PDP?’ and ‘Resign if you have run out of luck and ideas’.

The group said the time had come to save the PDP from the President.

It said, “The event of the last few days has ignited outrage and public condemnation because of the deliberate and well-calculated commencement of a presidential campaign by President Jonathan even in the face of his so-called ban on political activities.

“This is an unwarranted test of the will and patience of Nigerians, who tried to exhibit high level of tolerance of an administration which seems in the last two years to have lost the focus of true leadership and proper understanding of the ideals of our party’s founding fathers.”

Though the group said it believed that every member of the party was entitled to seek re-election, it said the display of the President’s posters was capable of destroying the party’s unity.

The group added that almost two years in office, “Mr. President has not shown the will and competence to solve the many problems of our country for which Nigerians entrusted him with their mandate.”

The group said with Jonathan’s performance, it was evident that the PDP might suffer its first presidential defeat.

It said the denial by the President that it knew nothing about the posters was informed by the condemnation that greeted their appearance.

The group appealed to the President to honour his alleged agreement with party leaders and governors in 2011 not to seek re-election.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, however, said the group did not exist.

He said, “Let me make it clear that my response is a mockery of a childish attempt by a faceless, inexperienced and impotent persons using a non-existing name or body.”