The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said on Wednesday that it has reviewed the blueprint of the All Progressives Congress, APC, unfolded on Monday by one of its leaders, Bola Tinubu, at the British House of Commons; and described it as “a basket of empty shells.”

The ruling party also described the event as an attempt to deodorize the stench of inadequacies that have dogged the yet to be registered party and challenged it to a debate on alternative programmes to those of the current federal administration.

At the event organized by the British Africa Diaspora Conference in London, Mr. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State unveiled the policy direction of the APC, a merger of some opposition parties, including ACN, just as he dismissed the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as a failure.

But in a statement in Abuja, the PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh, said the APC agenda as enunciated by Mr. Tinubu is not only devoid of originality but also a promise filled with shells.

“It was a letdown yesterday as the leader of the ACN, Bola Tinubu, stunned an international audience with the emptiness he unveiled as the emancipation package of the APC,” Mr. Metuh said.

“It is an agenda grossly lacking in essentials, in fundamentals; deep in cosmetics, devoid of originality, laced with half truths and outright lies and grittily divorced from the substance and incidentals that ginger national growth. It is a basket of promise filled with shells.”

The party argued that nothing exposed the un-seriousness of Mr. Tinubu’s presentation than his loud silence on corruption and the alternative road map to the extant security challenges which the opposition coalition has made so much noise about.

It said, “Members of the British parliament must have giggled and waited in vain for Mr. Tinubu to unveil the much vaunted opposition agenda on anti-terrorism and corruption. Is it that the APC has no answers to these or that Tinubu deliberately skipped them?”

“Here, curious minds reflect on two things. The PDP led Federal Government has applied the master strategy that is already yielding results; thus leaving the opposition bereft of fresh, better dimension as an alternative or that the man who appeared in the British House of Commons is the least qualified to speak on corruption and terrorism before such a self respecting and well meaning assembly with an in-depth grip on happenings in Nigeria.”

“Indeed, the leader of the ACN as we speak has unsettled issues of corruption and questionable credentials while it is obvious to all Nigerians that the leaders of the opposition are the chief promoters of insurgency in the country. This voyage of ridicule turned full circle as in Tinubu’s entourage was also, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, a man currently standing trial for acts of corruption. How then could the delegation have made a presentation on corruption?”

On the issue of National Social Security, the ruling party wondered why the states under the opposition have not been implementing it if it is such a laudable programme; knowing that under Nigeria’s federalism, the states suffer no restriction over such matters.

“Why is the opposition waiting to get to the centre before implementing this? Why did Tinubu not implement this as Lagos State Governor for eight years? Why are the six ACN states over which Tinubu is the overlord not implementing this? Promises are easily made.

“If Tinubu as Lagos Governor denied workers wage increment and denied pensioners the benefits of decades of service, how could the APC government which he canvasses take care of the aged and the vulnerable under the social security programme? Nigerians need eggs no doubt but not their empty shells!

“Similarly, the school feeding programme which the APC paraded as one of its cardinal agenda is in fact a programme under various stages of implementation since it was launched in September 2005 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In fact, some of the PDP states have gone beyond meal-a-day to other accompaniments that make learning easy for the Nigerian child.”

According to the PDP, “While Tinubu was in the UK unfolding the opposition agenda on education, teachers in Ogun, an opposition state locked the classrooms and chased school children home in strike over lingering issues of service. In Ekiti and Osun states also under the ACN, strikes have been the order of school curriculum for over a year now. Who then takes the opposition serious?”

PDP reminded the former Lagos governor that the same international community before which he tried to demonize Nigerian electoral process had adjudged the 2011 general elections as the most credible in the history of the country.

It recalled that Mr. Jonathan was in Edo State prior to the election won by Mr. Tinubu’s party to assure the people of credible poll and delivered same.

“Tinubu’s sermon on credible election and the state of democracy in Nigeria flies in the face of consistent knockings of the shenanigans that play out in the opposition states as local government elections.

“What then is credible election? Who listens to the hyperactive lies of the Nigerian opposition than those of their hue who already know they don’t have the structures and the unity (already seen in wide division APC leadership slots) to win the 2015 general elections and are therefore fashioning out reasons well ahead of time.”

The ruling party challenged the opposition parties to a debate on the alternative roadmap to the programmes of the current administration, saying, “We once more challenge the opposition to a debate on the alternative roadmap to what the PDP led Federal Government is doing at present.

“With an empirical comparison of the pace of development at the centre and the states under the opposition on one hand and these states against those under the PDP on the other, Nigerians are no doubt a better judge of who enjoys their mandate in 2015.”

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/138575-pdp-challenges-apc-to-debate-on-programmes.html

We all now those who run away from debates

Lol

Jonathan backs out of presidential debate

President Goodluck Jonathan may not participate in the presidential debate to be organised by the NN24 and its associate as his representative tactfully refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the event which is to be televised live on March 8 and 15.
However representatives of the three of the four leading presidential candidates in the upcoming April general elections signed the agreement on behalf of their principals. They are: Osita Okechukwu for Gen Muhammad Buhari (rtd) of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Sule Yau Sule for Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Ibrahim Modibbo for Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).


The representative of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, however refused to sign the MoU.

He said he was at the occasion with the hope of attending a press briefing, explaining that he could not sign the MoU because he does not know the content and has not discussed with his principal.

Daily Trust gathered that the action may not be unconnected with reports in the media that said President Jonathan’s representative was demanding for advance debate questions as a precondition for participating in the event.

Reacting on the development, the Founder/Chief Executive of NN24, Anthony Dara, apologised for any embarrassment which the said publication might have caused.

Dara said the March 1 meeting in Abuja with representatives of the ACN, ANPP, CPC and PDP was in furtherance of NN24’s quest to host a neutral Presidential Debate among the four leading candidates.

He said “that at the said meeting, all parties asked questions about the format and manner in which the debate would be conducted”, adding that “NN24 and Associates wishes to urge all parties to refrain from misrepresentations and slanted reporting of events going forward”.

When asked to clarify the remarks made by Dr Okupe, he said the occasion was not a press conference but rather an avenue to sign a document that provides ground rules for the debate which was discussed at the earlier meeting. He added that the media report on their earlier meeting led to the issuance of the press release which he read.

He promised to reach out to the representatives of the PDP to ensure that all the leading presidential candidates were involved, stressing that the debate was aimed at providing a platform to promote nation building and to give opportunity for the candidates to sell their programmes.

“We want to set standards. We have a platform with a wide reach. We are seen across the continent. We have a footprint on our satellite system across the nation. We are on DSTV. And on this special broadcast, every broadcast and media company is free to take the signal off DSTV. So our programme is readily available to anyone. This debate will also be live on the internet. It is going to be on Sky in Europe. It will be viewed across Europe. We will field in the signals via broadcast and World TV in the United States. This platform is unique because on that very day, there is going to be worldwide broadcast,” Dara said.

The Director of Media and Communication for Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation Modibbo appealed to President Jonathan to also avail himself of the opportunity provided by the debate as the first Phd holder as President of Nigeria. “Let him (Jonathan) make the difference. He is an educated man. Let him come. We challenge him. Let him not run away from a debate,” he added.

The Presidential Debate, which is strictly by invitation, will hold on March 8 at Eko Hotel in Lagos and March 15 at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

The debate for all the Vice Presidential candidates will hold on March 11 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. All the events are scheduled to hold between 6 p.m and 9 p.m

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13423:jonathan-backs-out-of-presidential-debate&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

There is time for everything. When the season for debate begins, I hope Jonathan shows up and be a man. This is the same party (PDP) that its presidential candidate chose to sit for an interview with D-banj while others were busy discussing how to move the country forward.

2011 Presidential Debate....

hey peeps easy on the retardino. his definition of debate is kinda different from what you lots knows. in his demented skull debate simply means doing solo sit down comedy show with dbanj.

They is no basket for the bad eggs.

Is that not Udubanj?

what is he doing there?

This is good for our democracy. More like a shadow cabinet.

Can APC please take up this challenge or forever remain silent.

This outburst, once again, is indicative of the paranoia of the universally unwanted, unpopular and dying GEJ Government over the willing audience the yet to be registered APC is gaining. Tinubu only gave a speech to a packed-out British diasporan congregation in the UK on Tuesday and a Presidency one would expect to be busy with pressing issues is challenging the APC that "get off the bus let us fight" (Bo le ka ja). Perhaps in desperate recognition of how the world is, in the face of the monumental failings of the PDP, more willing to listen to what the brightest alternative platform has to say.

Nationhood, especially as involves Countries that have significant and wider implications for world development, is a much bigger concept that is far beyond the machinations of a few unintelligent and myopic mortals like GEJ and his gang of corrupt and self-serving mercenaries.

The entire world sees Nigeria failing, despite it's massive endowment and significance to the universe, because of sheer incompetence. The sort that sees a President pretending to be searching for solutions yet rejecting clear-cut and straightforward transformational recommendations he has received. It won't be long before every ear is clinging on to what an opposition platform has to say and willing it on to win when those currently in charge are worthless,very disappointing, uninspired and highly profligate charlatans totally unwilling to implement the changes everyone, home and abroad, insist on seeing.

payless: There is time for everything. When the season for debate begins, I hope Jonathan shows up and be a man. This is the same party (PDP) that its presidential candidate chose to sit for an interview with D-banj while others were busy discussing how to move the country forward.

These lies and propaganda cannot fly. I wonder how you guys even believe some of the lies you spew on this forum.

For the records, GEJ failed to attend the NN24 debates while other candidates attended. GEJ attended the debate by the Nigeria Election Debate Group while the other candidates failed to show up. So if you claim GEJ avoided the NN24 debate, the same can also be said of other candidates (Buhari, Ribadu) who avoided the debate by Nigeria Elections Debate Group.

Some mischief makers argue that one debate is bigger or better than the other. That is a lie from the pit of HELL. There's nothing to suggest such. The NN24 debate which the other candidates attended and so much noise was made about is now EXTINCT. While the Nigeria Election Debate Group is still very active. They organised high quality debates for the gubernatorial candidates in the last Edo and Ondo elections. Liars and propagandists should take their lies elsewhere.

By the way, of the campaign messages that went round in preparatory to the 2011 elections, it is the famous "I had no shoes" campaign message of GEJ that still stand out till date. Other messages of GEJ that still stand out till date include "I have no enemy to fight", "I am one of you", "if I could make it, you can make it",etc. Can someone remind us of any famous campaign message from Buhari, Ribadu,etc. Now we know the learners

Sincere 9gerian:
These lies and propaganda cannot fly. I wonder how you guys even believe some of the lies you spew on this forum.

For the records, GEJ failed to attend the NN24 debates while other candidates attended. GEJ attended the debate by the Nigeria Election Debate Group while the other candidates failed to show up. So if you claim GEJ avoided the NN24 debate, the same can also be said of other candidates (Buhari, Ribadu) who avoided the debate by Nigeria Elections Debate Group.

Some mischief makers who argue that one debate is bigger or better than the other. That is a lie from the pit of HELL. There's nothing to suggest that. The NN24 debate which the other candidates attended and so much noise was made about is now EXTINCT. While the Nigeria Election Debate Group is still very active. They organised quality debates for the gubernatorial candidates in the last Edo and Ondo elections. Liars and propagandists should take their lies elsewhere.

By the way, of the campaign messages that went round in preparatory to the 2011 elections, it is the famous "I had no shoes" campaign message of GEJ that still stand out till date. Can someone remind us of any famous campaign message from Buhari, Ribadu,etc. Now we know the learners

try not to spin any s.hit lies here. the other presidential candidates didn't attend the second debate cos gej disregard for the first and most publicized debate.

Sincere 9gerian:
These lies and propaganda cannot fly. I wonder how you guys even believe some of the lies you spew on this forum.

For the records, GEJ failed to attend the NN24 debates while other candidates attended. GEJ attended the debate by the Nigeria Election Debate Group while the other candidates failed to show up. So if you claim GEJ avoided the NN24 debate, the same can also be said of other candidates (Buhari, Ribadu) who avoided the debate by Nigeria Elections Debate Group.

Some mischief makers argue that one debate is bigger or better than the other. That is a lie from the pit of HELL. There's nothing to suggest such. The NN24 debate which the other candidates attended and so much noise was made about is now EXTINCT. While the Nigeria Election Debate Group is still very active. They organised high quality debates for the gubernatorial candidates in the last Edo and Ondo elections. Liars and propagandists should take their lies elsewhere.

By the way, of the campaign messages that went round in preparatory to the 2011 elections, it is the famous "I had no shoes" campaign message of GEJ that still stand out till date. Other messages of GEJ that still stand out till date include "I have no enemy to fight", "I am one of you", "if I could make it, you can make it",etc. Can someone remind us of any famous campaign message from Buhari, Ribadu,etc. Now we know the learners

Bross,u never cease to amaze me!

they shud accept the debate no time for scraggy stories.

The war of words between party spokesmen keeps me busy albeit in the most hilarious terms . . .

The ruling party also described the event as an attempt to deodorize the stench of inadequacies that have dogged the yet to be registered party and challenged it to a debate on alternative programmes to those of the current federal administration.

But in a statement in Abuja, the PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh, said the APC agenda as enunciated by Mr. Tinubu is not only devoid of originality but also a promise filled with shells.
“It was a letdown yesterday as the leader of the ACN, Bola Tinubu, stunned an international audience with the emptiness he unveiled as the emancipation package of the APC

It is an agenda grossly lacking in essentials, in fundamentals; deep in cosmetics, devoid of originality, laced with half truths and outright lies and grittily divorced from the substance and incidentals that ginger national growth. It is a basket of promise filled with shells.”

It said, “Members of the British parliament must have giggled and waited in vain for Mr. Tinubu to unveil the much vaunted opposition agenda on anti-terrorism and corruption. Is it that the APC has no answers to these or that Tinubu deliberately skipped them

Then the Killer . . . .

What then is credible election? Who listens to the hyperactive lies of the Nigerian opposition than those of their hue who already know they don’t have the structures and the unity (already seen in wide division APC leadership slots) to win the 2015 general elections and are therefore fashioning out reasons well ahead of time.”

Iykopee: they shud accept the debate no time for scraggy stories.

Are you people for real? A debate that comes after Tinubu gave a speech in London about what his Party will offer Nigeria in the face of the monumental failure of the current Government? For a serious government focused on moving Nigeria forward, what should Tinubu's comments draw out from them if not a renewed commitment to carrying out the many badly need reforms analyst continuously indict the GEJ Government of ignoring?

If you back this pathetic garbage, delivered to get emptily clannish supporters like you riled up, Why not then sanction a competition for APC and PDP supremos to compare d1cks in public? Nigerians, and their lack of sophistication, are the problem of Nigeria. Don't shout "debate" because the indolent looters you support fool you into doing such when they have been correctly taken to task over their numerous failings. Challenge them, if they can, to implement the reforms we are all asking for.

Challenge GEJ, for example, to bravely lead Nigeria into an age where we can, in one fell swoop, defeat fraud against Nigeria by engaging foreign refineries directly to import refined derivatives of crude for us while we have a subsidy scheme in place. Challenge him to banish the use of marketers as he can and as Otedola, an influential member of his economic team, suggested.

Sorry, i dnt debate wit thugs! If i'm gaining points against him now, the sh!!t will get real and hit the fan

Gamji007:



Bross,u never cease to amaze me!

Likewise. Dude is a loser. He has no shame at all that this pathetically desperate challenge comes after Tinubu gave a well-received speech in the UK. Would a secure, popular, respected and achieving/performing ruling government care what the opposition is saying let alone be challenging it to a public duel outside an election period?

Gbawe:

Are you people for real? A debate that comes after Tinubu gave a speech in London about what his Party will offer Nigeria in the face of the monumental failure of the current Government? For a serious government focused on moving Nigeria forward, what should Tinubu's comments draw out from them if not a renewed commitment to carrying out the many badly need reforms analyst continuously indict the GEJ Government of ignoring?

If you back this pathetic garbage, delivered to get emptily clannish supporters like you riled up, Why not then sanction a competition for APC and PDP supremos to compare d1cks in public? Nigerians, and their lack of sophistication, are the problem of Nigeria. Don't shout "debate" because the indolent looters you support fool you into doing such when they have been correctly taken to task over their numerous failings. Challenge them, if they can, to implement the reforms we are all asking for.

Challenge GEJ, for example, to bravely lead Nigeria into an age where we can, in one fell swoop, defeat fraud against Nigeria by engaging foreign refineries directly to import refined derivatives of crude for us while we have a subsidy scheme in place. Challenge him to banish the use of marketers as he can and as Otedola, an influential member of his economic team, suggested.

Dude u are a snag to ur so called apc political party... Was d language so difficult to understand dat u go as lenthy as inundating the thread with codswallop posts.. Take d clog blurring ur views outta ur eyes and urge ur saliva dripping party members to accept the challenge or forever remain silent

Iykopee:

Dude u are a snag to ur so called apc political party... Was d language so difficult to understand dat u go as lenthy as inundating the thread with codswallop posts.. Take d clog blurring ur views outta ur eyes and urge ur saliva dripping party members to accept the challenge or forever remain silent

You cannot even write English properly. Why should any serious person engage you in debate?

eggheaders:

try not to spin any s.hit lies here. the other presidential candidates didn't attend the second debate cos gej disregard for the first and most publicized debate.

Excuses, excuses and more excuses. Tell me more.

I would love ds

Sunny_bobo: This is good for our democracy. More like a shadow cabinet.

Can APC please take up this challenge or forever remain silent.

u correct jawe

Sunny_bobo: This is good for our democracy. More like a shadow cabinet.

Can APC please take up this challenge or forever remain silent.

u correct jawe

Sunny_bobo: This is good for our democracy. More like a shadow cabinet.

Can APC please take up this challenge or forever remain silent.

u correct jawe

the truth be told.

good for our democrasy

Gbawe:

Likewise. Dude is a loser. He has no shame at all that this pathetically desperate challenge comes after Tinubu gave a well-received speech in the UK. Would a secure, popular, respected and achieving/performing ruling government care what the opposition is saying let alone be challenging it to a public duel outside an election period?

What else do you expect from a government that comprises people with shallow brains,bereft of ideas? A govt whose only reputation is lies, and responding to the slightest criticism,with noise instead of action.

Wow, what are they waiting for? Let the debate starts now!!!

What/who is APC ?
Why are my people jumping the gun?
Let ACN/CPC/LOSSPP/DUMBPP and the rest losing parties in their merger get registered as APC first,thereafter we can talk about debates

:PIts d job of d oppositn 2 always talk bcox dats their work bt wat suprises me most is how d ruling party are always challengin d oppositn each tym d oppositn talks...bt lets call a spade a spade, if APC has corrupt elements PDP 2 has corrupt element...moreso in 2015 we ll dcide if APC is better than PDP or if its not bt all we want d two parties to do is put up developmental projects that will win d minds of d electorate an stop dis cat and rat fyt in d media~~~NA GARRI LEVEL I DE O DIS MRNG OO......b4 i go comment and my oga at d dwn go say i don comment... if u lyk u cn join us as u cn c mr.AHMED TINUBU AND mr.TONY ANENIH ARE SHAKN GARRI WIT ME SO IF U CARE 2 JOIN US,,,WE WNT MIND