G5, Baraje joining APC: PDP is not moved – Metuh

NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said,
yesterday, that it was not moved by the movement of some members of
the G7 governors and the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led splinter group to
the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress, APC.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said while
addressing newsmen, that in politics and democracy, the beauty is that
some people must leave a political party, while others come in, adding
that with the actions of the governors and members of the Baraje
group, Nigerians now know their true colours.
Metuh said, "The attention of the national leadership of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, has been drawn to an announcement by members of
the so called New PDP declaring their membership of the All
Progressive Congress, APC. We recognise the rights of freedom of
association for all Nigerians and declare that it is within the rights
of any Nigerian citizen to associate with anybody he/she deems fit."
Vanguardlearnt that in spite of the defection of Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Dr. Sam Sam Jaja to APC, the Alhaji
Umaru Dikko led National Disciplinary Committee will still meet today
in Legacy House, PDP Presidential Campaign office, Maitama, Abuja. A
source said that the Committee will meet at the end of which it will
submit its report to the Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee,
NWC.
Speaking further on the defection of Oyinlola and others, Metuh said,
"By this open declaration today, those individuals have unveiled their
true intent which most Nigerians suspected ab initio. They have chosen
to abandon a broad based national platform and embraced a narrow
group of ethnic and religious bigots whose main intention is to
unleash a state of anarchy on Nigeria.
"We wish to state categorically that the PDP remains unperturbed as we
are now rid of detractors and distractions. We urge all our members
nationwide to remain focused and close ranks, now that agents of
distraction have finally left our ranks. We wish to remind our members
that from the rulings of the court there are no factions whatsoever in
the PDP. In the eyes of the law, the PDP remains one and an
indivisible entity under the leadership of Dr. Bamanga Tukur, CON.
"We wish to commend the wise decision of some of the aggrieved
governors to dissociate themselves from the action of some of their
colleagues. We assure all Nigerians that the PDP will continue to grow
from strength to strength and will definitely emerge stronger from
this event. We reiterate that the position of the law is very clear
that there is no faction whatsoever in the PDP."
Hailing President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts at restoring peace
to the party, Metuh disclosed that the peace process initiated by the
president was still on course, adding, "We wish to use this
opportunity to remind all PDP members that the peace process initiated
by President Goodluck Jonathan is still on course and we wish to thank
him for his patience, humility and spirit of accommodation. The
meeting between the President and aggrieved members shall hold on
Sunday, December 01, 2013.
"Finally, we wish to reassure our teeming members that our doors
remain open to address all grievances. We shall, however, not condone
any acts of internal subversion from any quarters. The beauty of
Democracy is that in a political party system, some members are bound
to leave while others come in."