The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said it had succeeded in strengthening the opposition in the new dispensation through visionary and articulate leadership provided by the current National Working Committee (NWC) under the acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
The party said it achieved the rare feat of producing the Deputy Senate President even as an opposition party, through knowledge, capacity, visionary memory as well the team spirit being promoted by the present leadership.
It said the new PDP now has a stronger voice in the affairs of the country, speaks with one voice and commands the trust and regard of party members.
Speaking on the performance of the present leadership of the party and NWC under Secondus, the PDP spokesman said the party had transformed into a different PDP.
While receiving one of the youth groups of the party, PDP Rebirth Forum, which came to express support for the leadership, Secondus said no one can dispute the fact that the party is the true democratic asset that the nation has.
He assured them that party would implement the report of the Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu-led post-election committee to the latter, adding that every member would have the opportunity of realising his or her dreams and aspirations under the new PDP.
Speaking at the opening of a one-day training workshop in Abuja facilitated by the International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said as a result of more purposeful leadership, the party has witnessed more cohesion and was now working more closely, offering a stronger voice in the affairs of the country.
“In this short time that Secondus has piloted the affairs of the party, he has made tremendous progress, especially with the strengthening of its position in the National Assembly. For the first time, the opposition party produced one of the principal officers of the National Assembly. It has never happened in any known democracy in the world.
“I challenge anyone to tell me anywhere in the world where an opposition party with fewer members will end up producing a Deputy Senate President or one of the principal officers of the Senate. This happened in Nigeria because of the knowledge, capacity, vision as well as team leadership which Secondus and the NWC have provided,” he said.
Metuh explained that as part of the rebuilding efforts of the party, the publicity officials are being enjoined to always emphasise on promoting the truth in all their communication with the people.
According to him, it is only when they promote truth that the people will begin to have more trust and believe in the position of the party, adding that the new posture of the PDP will help to differentiate the party from others and establish it as body with great integrity.
“We insist that our publicity units in the states must always emphasise on truth and ensure that they base their statements on facts. You should stick to the truth no matters and how they affect your party. In the past few years, we have seen the difference between our party and the other ones. While they would rush to the media with their positions not minding the source or truth of what they are bringing up, we in the PDP have insisted on the truth, we insist that our officers must do their duty and apply a lot of integrity to ensure that the public trusts whatever information that comes out from the PDP.”
He advised the state publicity secretaries to make sure they relate well with members of the media and ensure they help to provide checks and balances in the affairs of governance in their respective states.
The PDP spokesman said contrary to the derogatory meaning given to it by detractors, the slogan ‘share the money’, it actually represents the party’s policy of transfer of public enterprise to the private sector operators and empowerment of ordinary Nigerians.
“The PDP has been viewed by people from different angles. To some, the party represents, ‘ share the money’, to others, the PDP has in the past conducted its affairs in a manner as to portray it as upholding impunity.
“To some others, they think that PDP accommodates corruption or corrupt practices, but one thing that is very straight forward is the fact that the PDP represents all national interests and it stands for the peaceful coexistence of this country,” he stated.
Earlier, the Country Director of IRI, Mr. Sentell Bernes, said the purpose of the training was to assist the party to improve on its public communication.
He noted that the group had been working with the PDP since 1999 and has contributed to the work of the party post-election review report in order to strengthen the party external communication and ability to mobilise support for election.
