Nigeria must remain united during and after the forthcoming general elections regardless of the nation’s existing religious, regional and ethnic fault lines.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Anenih, gave the advice in a statement Tuesday in Abuja.
Anenih, an elder statesman in a statement titled, “2015 Elections: Nigeria must keep moving forward in unity”, acknowledged both national and international concerns about the ability of Nigeria to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections.
The statement reads in part, “While I acknowledge that these concerns are not without foundation, I have no reservation whatsoever in assuring my fellow Nigerians that, whatever the odds may be, Nigeria will keep moving forward in unity.
“As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, I am unwavering in my belief that the unity and advancement of our country is better protected by the PDP than by any other party.
“In the past four presidential elections, many of you agreed with me and voted our party to victory. For this privilege you’ve repeatedly given our party to steer the ship of state since our nation’s return to democracy in 1999, I thank you once more.
“I am also calling on all Nigerians to once again vote the PDP in 2015. It is a matter of verifiable fact that the PDP, besides faithfully discharging its foremost duty to Nigeria of sustaining a stable and functional state, has recorded many achievements in Agriculture, Aviation, Education, Road, Rail, Industrialisation, Women and Youth Empowerment and many other sectors.”
Anenih, who is the National Campaign Adviser of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, assured that when re-elected, the PDP-led Federal Government under President Jonathan would build more on the achievements on ground.
He specifically commended the revolution in the Almajiri education in the north aimed at integrating the teeming Almajiri population into the regular education scheme, pointing out that the Federal Government has already completed more than 150 purpose-built schools with many more under construction for the programme.
Anenih noted that “the PDP has successfully carried out a strategic restructuring of what was largely a state-run economy to a free-market economy, thereby engendering greater human development, free enterprise and irreversible economic expansion.
“These policies have created new jobs and empowered Nigerians from the North, South, East and West, thereby fostering more inclusive economic growth, especially in Agriculture and the Small and Medium Enterprises sector through programmes such as SURE-P and YouWin.
“It is a universally-acknowledged principle that inclusive economic growth for the populace is the best guarantee that we have not only for our political and democratic stability, but also in ensuring that Nigeria keeps moving forward in unity.”
He appealed to Nigerians to support President Jonathan, whom he described as the best candidate for the job, with a renewed mandate at the polls.
The BoT chair assured that the president and the PDP “shall redouble their efforts to stem the evil tide of terrorism and insurgency, fast track greater access to qualitative education across the country, pursue an even more aggressive infrastructure development programme, while still safeguarding the democratic ideals of free speech and liberty which we all enjoy today.”
He further urged them, irrespective of tribe, religion, region, or political affiliation, to eschew all forms of mudslinging, disorder, and violence as they turn out en-masse to vote for President Jonathan.
“Let us prove the naysayers wrong. Let us show the world that as Nigerians, regardless of our differences, we are determined that Nigeria must keep moving forward in unity,” Anenih admonished.
