'APC is arrogant over victory' - PDP Sec. says

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as diversionary and unnecessary claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it is not cooperating with the Presidency in the transition process.

This is contained in a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja on Friday, May 8.

He added that the meetings of the transition and inauguration committees of both parties have been going on.

"We understand Alhaji ’s excitement in the euphoria of his party's unexpected victory.

"We view the APC’s provocative statement, especially the unguarded invectives on the Presidency and PDP as an unfortunate display of arrogance and falsehood.’’

According to him, this attitude is aimed at heating up the system and covering up its inadequacies and invent excuses for any failure in office.

He confirmed that the APC Transition Committee headed by Malam Ahmed Joda, held two meetings with the presidential team chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

He added that the Timipre Sylva-led APC Inauguration Committee, has also been meeting, almost on daily basis, with the PDP team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Metuh stressed that the APC is misleading the public about the existing situation regarding the Presidency’s refusal to cooperate with the transition committee set up by the president elect.

He further said that the PDP has remained humble in defeat while focusing on "rebuilding itself,” adding that the failure of the party did not open it to the APC’s "unnecessary attacks and insults’'.

"As we look up from the lowest level we have ever fallen, we are fully determined to start the process of ascending back to an acceptable level in earnest.

"The APC must, therefore, learn to be decent and cease to be arrogant as that will amount to taking the goodwill of the people for granted.’’

He, however, advised the incoming APC government not to renege on its campaign promises but to focus on how to deliver same to Nigerians.

"Instead of engaging in shadow-chasing and dwelling on insults and unnecessary display of arrogance the APC leaders should be worried that Nigerians are increasingly becoming apprehensive that their party, has already started going back on the promises it made to them.

"Nigerians are not in a hurry to forget that the APC promised to rapidly fix the economy, generate, transmit and distribute electricity on a 24/7 basis, pay N5,000 monthly to 25 million poor Nigerians.’’

He further reminded the APC about its promises to provide allowances to the discharged corps members for 12 months, create four million houses and provide free education and meals for school children.

Metuh noted that the APC promised to bring the Nigerian naira to the same value with the dollar, among other campaign promises.

He called on the APC to keep faith, saying that Nigerians will not accept any excuse for failure.

The spokesman said aside from the successful fight against insurgency in the North-East, the Federal Government has laid solid foundation for Nigeria’s steady socio-economic growth and development.

He expressed the PDP’s preparedness to offer "the most constructive and credible opposition” after nurturing the nation's democracy to a globally acknowledged level.

Metuh added the party is poised to reposition itself to regain power in 2019.