PDP accuses opposition of influencing media attacks

Abuja - The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)  of engaging the services of foreigners to launch media attacks on individuals and institutions of government.

“We have observed the ill-conceived and wicked offensive deployed by the APC wherein it has now resorted to attacking the personality of individuals and institutions of government using a section of the media.

"In the last few days, the media have been awash with paid write-ups and advertorials by the APC using resources meant for the development of their states to castigate, discredit and ridicule PDP officials and other well-meaning individuals in the country,” the ruling party stated in a press statement signed by Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary.

“It is rather despicable that instead of coming out with tangible explanations that would delink it from the negatives for which Nigerians have rejected it, the APC, now haunted by its ugly shadow, has resorted to yet another diversionary tactics of propaganda, blackmail and falsehood, this time, using paid consultants masquerading as newspaper columnists to attack and insult individuals including the person of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

PDP restated that it was not perturbed by the so-called attacks.

“We completely stand by our position that the APC is a party of unpatriotic persons whose agenda is to destroy our democracy and the unity we enjoy as a nation.

This wave of attack is clearly part of APC’s “Janjaweed” ideology of destruction and inciting the people against individuals, especially government officials, in furtherance of the plot to undermine the system and balkanize the nation along ethnic and religious lines ahead of the 2015 general elections; an agenda which has already failed.

"We are aware that the APC has engaged the services of foreigners who have since been imported into the country to do the hatchet job in collaboration with the paid consultants who pocket as much as N5 million for each negative publication.”

The ruling party added that it was aware of failed efforts by the APC to compromise credible Nigerian columnists and bloggers, “who for the love of our dear country and fear of God refused to be made agents of destabilization.”

“Nigerians must insist that the APC declares the source of the billions of naira with which it is sponsoring the negative publications. We must ensure that the funds are not coming from the resources meant for the development of their states where the people are already subjected to untold hardship on account of the looting and heavy taxes by the APC.

"As an ill-bred party, it is not surprising that the APC has continued to exhibit crass hatred for the President even to the extent of unleashing their thugs to attack innocent citizens for the singular reason of being in possession of posters of President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Metuh added, “Nigerians are now aware that the APC is a party of hypocrites; of wolves in messianic robes seeking to deceive with the promise of change. We wish to state categorically that the APC as presently constituted has nothing to offer. It is not an alternative to the PDP neither is it an option to Nigerians. Its orchestrated mantra of change remains cosmetic, hypocritical and hollow, unless we now speak of change from democracy to dictatorship.

“By every indication, the APC is a rudderless ship heading for crisis and self-destruction. We want Nigerians to note that whilst the leaders of the APC have continued to focus on attacking people and causing confusion, the PDP has focused on sensitizing the people as well as strengthening and expanding its support base.”