The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come out to defend the party’s national secretary, Prof. Wole Oladipo who referred to General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, presidential candidate as “semi-literate jackboot.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, he said that PDP’s reference to Buhari, as “semi-literate jackboot” was not an instance of malicious attack on character because his party occupies ‘high moral ground’.
Metuh then adviced the APC to stop personal attacks on members of the PDP and focus on issue-based campaigns.
Metuh who acknowledged Oladipo’s attack on Buhari said: “In the PDP, we occupy the moral high ground as far as our commitment to issues-based campaign is concerned.
“Our word remains our bond. Since we made that commitment, we have focused on issues.
“There has never been any instance that we have maliciously attacked the characters of those on the presidential ticket of the APC.
“Rather, we have been alive to our responsibility of offering public service, so that Nigerians will not be deceived.’’
He added that the statement by Oladipo, referred to by the APC, did not compare to instances of vicious, malicious and provocative attacks on the person and office of President Goodluck Jonathan by the APC.
He said that in the face of vicious attacks on the President, PDP had remained committed to engaging in decent campaign ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“It is on record that a few days after the commitment alluded to by the APC, Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and of the APC attacked the person of President Jonathan, describing him as an incompetent commander-in-chief.
“No personal attack could be more vicious and unconscionable. Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, had consistently prosecuted a hate campaign against President Jonathan, describing him as an enemy of Rivers people.
“To worsen the entire matter, the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, is complicit in the propagation of personal attack over and above issues.
“It was insulting for Buhari to say, as he did in Sokoto on December 21, that no right-thinking Nigerian will vote for Jonathan.’’
Metuh said President Jonathan had never, whether before or after he became the PDP presidential candidate for 2015 election, attacked the character or person of General Buhari.
He assured that PDP was however, fully prepared, ready, willing and able to defend all personal attacks on President Jonathan and the party’s leadership.
http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2014/12/24/why-pdp-described-buhari-as-a-semi-illiterate-jackboot-metuh/