BoT chair: PDP has nothing to apologise for, Dokpesi recants

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said it contributed immensely to the development of the country during its 16 years rule, and had nothing to apologise for.
Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr Bello Mohammed, made this known at the National Conference of the party in Abuja.
The theme of the one day conference is “PDP and the Sustenance of Democratic Ideals in Nigeria.’’
Mohammed said that PDP was moving forward as an alternative party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and would remain a party of choice for Nigerians.
“For one reason or the other, what has happened has happened, but that does not mean all our policies were wrong.
“That is why when I heard that PDP is apologising for the period it was in government for 16 years, I was surprised.
“The PDP governors, presidents, ministers and other functionaries have given their best; we have recorded very high achievements in this country and we have everything to be proud of.
“We have nothing to apologise for,’’ he said.
Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the Conference Committee Chairman, had at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday apologised on behalf of the party for ‘’its mistakes during its 16-year rule’’.
The BOT chairman said that what had been happening in Nigeria in the last six months had vindicated the PDP.
“All what has been happening in the APC government is being built on PDP’s foundation, at state and national levels.
“We should not fall for the gimmick, trying to spoil the name of PDP, that we have destroyed the country; these are all propaganda.
“The actual truth is that the PDP handed over to Buhari a viable government,’’ he maintained.
He advised the APC-led Federal Government not to use PDP as an excuse to run away from fulfilling its campaign promises to Nigerians.
“This country needs the consensus of opinions, regardless of political affiliation, to collectively fight insurgency and develop the country.
“We need all people of this country to work together if we are to defeat Boko Haram, renew the economy, progress and move this country forward,’’ he stressed.
In his speech, Acting Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, called for investigation into alleged payment of commission running into billions of Naira to a company, from the monies collected in Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“This is an unprecedented rip-off of our common wealth,’’ he said, and called for the transparent prosecution of anybody indicted in any `fraudulent deal’’, no matter how highly placed.
Secondus described the conference as “laudable and auspicious, having consideration to the trajectory of our party’s history 17 years after its formation.’’
He noted that in spite of the disappointing loss of the party in the 2015 general elections, its members needed to draw energy for a rebound “to our proud heritage.’’
He stated that considering the challenging circumstances the party had found itself, members must be determined to resist the temptation to continue in the ‘’blame game’’.
According to him, the future of PDP is bright and it can still rekindle the hope it gave Nigerians in 1998 through hard work and sacrifice.
“What we need to do now is to sustain the ongoing repositioning of our party by implementing the approved recommendations of the Ike Ekweremadu’s committee.
“Secondly, we need to forge ahead in unity; we need not entertain unrealistic schemes and ambitions at this critical time in order for us to achieve maximum results,’’ he advised.
Earlier, Chairman of the Conference Committee, Dokpesi said “PDP is not dead; it is not dying and will never die.’’
Dokpesi urged members of the party to be united and avoid every divisible tendency.