By Danlami Nmodu
National Chairman of People Democratic Party,PDP has urged Nigerians to put national interest above personal ambitions at this crucial period in the nation’s history.Tukur made this call in a message to mark this year’s democracy day celebration which coincides with thirteen years of uninterrupted civilian rule.
In a statement released today by Olisah Metuh, PDP’s national publicity,Tukur said “This is the time to come together and build afresh if only we can place the nation’s interest above personal ambitions. We (all Nigerians) may be of different ethnic groups, religion and ideology but our diversity is our greatest strength. PDP is always working to ensure that Nigeria is one nation, one people. It is appropriate at this juncture, to exhort our people so they will continue to stand firm in the face of detractions by those whose usual business is under threat by the on-going transformation”.
Read the PDP statement below:
13 YEARS AFTER: WE HAVE STAYED THE COURSE!
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bamanga Tukur (CON), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and millions of party members nationwide salutes the President and Commander-in-chief, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR), the Vice president, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo (GCON), leaders and members
of the national assembly, the judiciary, state governors, labour and civil society groups and indeed all Nigerians as the nation marks the 2012 Democracy Day.
When in 1999, Nigerians entrusted our great party with the leadership of the nation, we promised to re-build Nigeria based on the ideology established by our founding fathers. Since then the PDP has made significant progress in returning the country to the path of sustainable development and steady economic growth as a basis to stabilize and consolidate our democracy. In the last 13 years, PDP governments at federal, states and local council levels, have carried out far-reaching reforms in the various sectors of the economy to serve as building blocks for sustainable development and to grow our capacity in local production and improve the quality of service delivery. This has been achieved despite various challenges which we have taken in our stride and which has served to make us stronger as a unified political party.
Tangible results are already evident and Nigerians no doubt already appreciate some of the tough decisions we have had to take to improve the quality of life of our citizens. Hence our mandate has been renewed repeatedly from one election to the other. And after the remarkable elections held on the 16th of April 2011, when Nigerians emphatically demonstrated their confidence in our ability to lead them yet again, TRANSFORMATION was our pledge to a nation that spoke with one voice. A year on, we are right on course!
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is determined to transfer wealth to the masses and establish a strong and sustainable middle class as defined in our ideology. Nowhere in the world has true democracy and economic transformation evolved overnight; it takes time, sacrifice and patience.
However for the first time in the history of this great nation, we have had 13 years of an uninterrupted journey to the ‘promised land” and to get there PDP needs the cooperation of all Nigerians, especially the opposition parties and the civil society to join hands and build this great country of ours. This transition time for the nation, is not the time to walk on political divide and demonize the ruling party, the PDP. The issues involved go beyond politics.
‘Unity’ should remain our watchword. It was unity that made us a great nation and leader of the African continent and will make us greater still. This is the time to come together and build afresh if only we can place the nation’s interest above personal ambitions. We (all Nigerians) may be of different ethnic groups, religion and ideology but our diversity is our greatest strength. PDP is always working to ensure that Nigeria is one nation, one people.
It is appropriate at this juncture, to exhort our people so they will continue to stand firm in the face of detractions by those whose usual business is under threat by the on-going transformation. Our commitment is to ensure meaningful changes in the life of the current administration.
We thank all Nigerians for their support in the last thirteen years of democracy and for their deep faith in democracy. We thank you for your resolve and determination to continue to live in peace despite all the challenges. We enjoin all Nigerians irrespective of differences to join hands during this unique era of national transformation. The moment is historic and the PDP is resolved to seize it for posterity.
We wish all Nigerians a wonderful Democracy Day!
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
