The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has taken a swipe at the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing defectors of engaging in “irresponsible verbal attacks” after realising they had joined a “one-chance vehicle.”
In a statement signed by its director-general, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the forum likened the ADC’s plight to that of the prodigal son, stressing that the PDP remains open to welcoming back repentant members who show genuine remorse.
The reaction followed criticisms from the ADC and some Zamfara residents, who described the PDP governors’ dinner and colourful gathering in Gusau as insensitive, given the state’s ongoing security crisis.
ADC’s national publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, had condemned the Gusau meeting as “an insensitive jamboree,” accusing the governors of disregarding the grief of citizens recently affected by bandit attacks.
But the PDP governors dismissed the outcry, insisting that the ADC’s comments were unjustifiable and borne out of frustration.
“Ordinarily, we would not grant them the rare privilege of joining issues, but it is our sense of responsibility to correct the erroneous impression being forced down the sensibilities of the innocent Nigerian public that necessitates this response.
“Playing politics and trying to gain political capital with human lives isn’t our stock in trade, as is characteristic of the ADC; the Zamfara Meeting was scheduled and not a spur-of-the-moment thing. ADC should have done better by empathising through a visit to the affected states than playing to the gallery.
“The Meeting extensively deliberated on the state of the nation, the security situation, amongst other critical issues of national interest and at the end of the day issued a communique that created time and space to comment on the state of insecurity and security reforms as follows;
“The Forum, particularly commends initiatives by the government of Zamfara State in significantly curbing insecurity within the state; but condemns the continued monstrous killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Benue States and other parts of the country and calls on the federal government to be more responsive to the lives and properties of the citizenry”, Agbo stated.
Continuing further, the PDP Governors’ Forum described the ADC as prodigal children whose exit has brought peace for the PDP.
“Since their exit, the PDP has become much more formidable and focused, with clear determination to have our eyes on the ball.
“The ADC before now, with their inordinate sense of entitlement, constituted a huge clog to the wheel of national unity and harmony.
“The security situation in the country was of grave concern to the PDP governors, which took centre stage in our deliberation and resolution as contained in the communique.
“That the ADC couldn’t see that much isn’t surprising, as the prodigal son wasn’t known to have any pity on his father’s fortune,” the PDP Governors’ Forum stated.
