PDP promises Nigerians good leadership

The Peoples Democratic Party National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, said the party would continue to provide good leadership to the people in spite of intimidation and blackmail from opposition.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to a case filed against PDP by Malam Nasir` El-Rufai, a Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, at an FCT High Court.

The PDP, Olisa Metuh, PDP National Publicity Secretary, and Thisday Newspapers Limited are the defendants in the case.

El-Rufai, Interim Deputy National Secretary of APC, sued the PDP for an alleged malicious and defamatory publication against him published in Thisday newspaper on 17 and 23 March.

The former FCT Minister wants the court to order the defendants to pay him N1.5 billion as general damages for injury, embarrassment, and distress in respect to loss of reputation and goodwill.

He prayed the court for an order directing the defendants to publish an apology with the same prominence as the offending publication against him.

El-Rufai also said that there should be an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further publication of defamatory content against him.

He contended that Metuh maliciously, unlawfully and without any justification uttered defamatory statement against him.

However, Oladipo said PDP would study the suit, defend the party’s integrity, the Federal Government and more importantly the country’s democracy.

He said all anti-democratic forces that had been creating instability in the country would be exposed with facts and figures by the PDP.

“No amount of intimidation, blackmail and name calling will stop us from providing the necessary good leadership to the people and to defending all Nigerians wherever they reside in this country,” he said.

Oladipo said that irrespective of the situation, the PDP would continue to defend the people`s mandate and the party’s position.

“We are not flippant, we don`t talk without fact, it is good that this is happening in the court of law and the party will defend its position,” he said.

He said that every comment made by the party`s national publicity secretary or other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), was based on the collective decision of the committee.

Oladipo said any attempt made to single out any member of the party`s NWC for persecution would be resisted by the PDP through all legal means at its disposal.

Oladipo said the party leadership would continue to remain transparent in its operations.