God is behind PDP - Former Jonathan minister boasts

macfranc007 November 13, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Aanu Adegun

- A former minister of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the party is yet to recover from the shock of losing 2015 Presidential election

- He said the ruling party wanted to destroy the PDP

- Turaki, however, claimed that God is behind the PDP, hence, the APC could not destroy it

Tanimu Turaki, former minister for special duties in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to recover from the shock of losing 2015 presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC)

The former who spoke on the performance of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari said the ruling party wanted to destroy the PDP but their plans failed because God is behind the party.

Turaki said this while fielding question from Premium Times.

He said: "I agree with you in a sense. I agree with you because most of us are yet to recover from the shock of the defeat we had in the 2015 election. Like I said, the APC themselves did not believe that they could win, just like PDP never believed that we could lose because of what we did and the relationship between us and Nigerians. But we lost and they won.

"When PDP was in government, we allowed opposition to grow. We supported them and created a level playing ground in all ramifications. Like I said, even in the war against corruption which we initiated because of our believe that the system must be cleansed in line with what is happening globally, we did not harass any opposition member. The records are there, I challenge anybody.

"Even when members of the press and indeed many Nigerians spoke and criticised us, we were always taking it in good faith. We believe and still do that Nigerians have the rights to say their minds at all times. We never saw it as an act of sabotage or hate speech as it were, we took everything in good faith.

"From the time when President Obasanjo came into office up to the time when President Jonathan left on May 29, 2015 there was no single individual that was arrested or molested on account of his free expression of his views. We were very accommodating, Nigerians know that and nobody can deny that fact."

Going further, he argued that the APC has nothing to offer Nigerians because they are conflagration of opposing people.

"But what is happening? Because APC is not a political party; it’s a conflagration of people whose ideas are incongruous; whose thinking is diametrically opposed to each other, who have nothing to offer, came together. In order to cover their inefficiency, incapacity and their unpreparedness in government, they have to create a lot of diversion. What are these diversions? If somebody’s wife has miscarriage, they will say it’s the fault of PDP.

"If you are unable to get employment, they say it’s the fault of PDP. If they are unable to pay salaries, they will say it’s the fault of PDP. They were so much engaged in this continuous act of propaganda and self delusion such that at that point in time, a lot of Nigerians in our gullible minds were beginning to say oh! That could be true.

"After 100 days, there was nothing to show for it. After one year, there was nothing to celebrate; after two years, Nigerians are now beginning to say, no, APC, these things could not have been PDP. You have been in government for over two years now, what have you got to show except monumental corruption? Is it the grass cutting scandal of the sacked SGF?

"And when something relates to a Nigerian that is not a politician, they begin to shout. When something relates to a Nigerian that is in the opposition, they even shout more. When it relates to a member of the APC, they keep quiet. If today I am a member of the PDP and I am accused of stealing money and tomorrow I decamp to APC, that is the end of it. I will not be investigated, arrested neither will I be arraigned before the court of law and that will be the end of the matter. There are millions and one of these examples to give. Nigerians are aware of them.

"Like I said also on many occasions, we are human. President Jonathan wanted the election to be as clean as possible. He wanted the 2015 elections to be conducted in line with international best practices. That was why we said let there be level playing ground, and level playing ground indeed was provided.

"And for the first time in the history of elections in Africa, a sitting president accepted defeat even before the conclusion of the election exercise. It has never happened anywhere in Africa. But instead of taking this gain moving this nation forward, what is APC doing? Dividing us and destroying our unity because they know they cannot do anything.

"They did not stop there, realising that Nigerians are beginning to realise they have made a fundamental mistake in electing them into power, they said ok, let is try and destroy PDP. That was why they inserted that crisis within us.

"But one with God is majority. Because we are with God in PDP, we said ok, we are not going to fight dirty, we are not going to start kicking and killing ourselves, let us allow this thing to be resolved in a proper manner because we belief this this thing is not just going to benefit PDP as a political party, but will benefit democracy in this country.

"What was the issue that was taken through the gamut of the Judiciary up to the Supreme Court? It was the issue of the interpretation of the constitution of a political party, with due regards and reference to the powers of the national convention. So, the decision of the Supreme Court has not only settled the rift in PDP, but has a set a standard that will settle any similar quarrel that may arise in any political party in this country again.

"Now the dramatis personae that was sent in to cause crisis; when even when the caretaker national chairman is saying no victor, no vanquished and an olive branch was extended to him, he said no, I want to return to APC, I want to go back to my masters. But what is happening? The APC are saying we don’t want you."

PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported former president, Goodluck Jonathan said Atiku Abubakar cannot get the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress and hinted that he should go for that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

There has been speculation that the former vice president would contest in the 2019 presidential election although this has not been made official yet.

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on NAIJ.com TV: