If not for President Jonathan, Boko Haram would have taken over Nigeria - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party on Monday boasted that it was President Goodluck Jonathan’s tactics that stopped the Boko Haram from overrunning half of the country.

The party also said it would not fight former President Olusegun Obasanjo because some of the PDP’s achievements were recorded during his regime.



It said if not for Jonathan’s actions and dexterity in the fight against insurgency, members of the dreaded sect would have taken over about half of Nigeria.

As a result of this, the party said the President deserved commendations from Nigerians rather than being vilified.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said this at a press briefing in Abuja.

He said the problem of insecurity in the North-East should not be attributed to Jonathan, adding that the President had been trying to contain it.

Metuh said, “The problem that we have in the North-East to deal with is insurgency; it is not the making of this government. This government has tried as much as possible to contain it.

“I must proclaim, every now and then, Nigerians encourage us by saying that if not for the character, candour and the personality of the President, these insurgents would have overrun more than half of Nigeria.

“We would have been under occupation of terrorists if not for the determination, the style and the character and personality of the president.”

Explaining how the President had been working to stop Boko Haram, he said the government had been able to secure a ceasefire, dialogue with members of the sect and the use of other methods.

“He has been able to offer a ceasefire, dialogue and other things to engage them. He has been trying all sorts of methods and engaging them in serious warfare and Nigerians have noted that if not for his character, Boko Haram would have overrun half of Nigeria,” he added.

He said that the Jonathan administration had done more than other administrations in the history of the country for the people of the northern region.

Metuh said, “Jonathan’s administration has been very fair to the North in terms of projects, political appointments and the establishment of almajiri schools which have improved education in the region.

“The present administration has done a lot more for the three zones in the North than any of the administrations before him in the areas of agriculture, education, roads, railways and many more.

Expressing optimism on the outcome of the Presidential election, come February 14, Metuh boasted that the PDP would win convincingly in the six geo-political zones of the country.

He said, “The PDP will win in the North-West, North-Central, North-East, South-South, South-East and South-West. The All Progressives Congress will not win in any of the zones and our victory will be very convincing.”

On the activities of Obasanjo, who is believed not to be working for the party but the opposition, Metuh said that the party would continue to appeal to him to support its candidates.

He said there was no way the party would fight the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, saying some of the achievements recorded by the party were made under his regime.

Metuh said, “Concerning our leader, our Baba Obasanjo, we have big respect for him. This party gave him the ticket that brought him to power and brought him back to reckoning.

“Some of our achievements were made under Obasanjo. We can’t discuss him in the public. We will continue to urge him to support us. We want his support.”

On the gale of defections in the party, Metuh said that the party was aware that there were grievances concerning its primaries. He however urged those that were wronged to reconsider their position and return to the PDP.

In an emotion-laden voice, Metuh said, “I hope that we have learnt lessons from these (primaries). We won’t celebrate those who have defected (to other political parties).”