PDP asks candidates, others to brace for more sacrifice

• APC pledges better social investments

AHEAD of the elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their renewed solidarity and overwhelming support for President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP candidates. The ruling party pledged to reciprocate the gesture by working harder at ensuring prudent management of national resources.

    In the same vein, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has given the assurance that it would not impose any harsh tax regime on Nigerians but would rather employ existing tax policies of government to fund its people-oriented programmes.

  The PDP, which noted that it was already coasting to victory with the support of the people, said that its National Chairman, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, had directed all PDP candidates, as well as would-be government appointees under the party to be ready to go the extra mile in making sacrifices for Nigeria. 

     National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, said that all serving elected and appointed PDP government officials had also been directed to set the tempo for the new era by redoubling their efforts and making more sacrifices in reciprocation of the support of the people.

  “The leadership of the PDP wishes to thank Nigerian people for their renewed and overwhelming support for our party and our candidates in the 2015 general elections. We also appreciate the massive collective support given to our presidential flagbearer, President Jonathan especially in the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency.       

  “Indeed, it is heartwarming to note the faith, confidence and hope our people have renewed in us for a more prosperous tomorrow. We therefore state in the strongest possible terms that we will not let them down. 

This show of love and support by Nigerians brings out the best in us. We must reciprocate by making huge sacrifices and working harder, more than ever before to give our people the best.

  “In this regard, Mu’azu has directed all PDP government officials including governors, federal and state legislators, ministers, commissioners, local government chairmen, councillors as well as all political heads of parastatals to be prepared to make sacrifices, which must be the face of PDP governance across board.

  “We must make sacrifices that will strengthen our bond as a nation and rekindle the resilient spirit in our people for greater accomplishments.

  “We must make sacrifices that will consolidate the gains already recorded in the Transformation Agenda of the PDP-led government in all sectors of the economy. We must make sacrifices that will guarantee a better tomorrow for our children and generation yet unborn, in keeping with the manifesto of our great party and the visions of our founding fathers,” the statement said.

  The ruling party assured that stringent measures would be put in place at all levels to plug loopholes, curb economic waste and eliminate corrupt practices in all sectors.

  While restating its appreciation to Nigerians for their support, the PDP said that it was always guided by the yearnings and aspirations of the people and urged Nigerians to continue in their solidarity with its candidates and government at all levels.

  “The PDP as a party believes in the people. We derive our power from the people. Indeed, all our policies and actions are always guided by their wishes and aspiration and not from the whims of a few individuals. It is on this note that we invite Nigerians from all walks of life to continue to join hands with us to achieve the Nigeria of our collective dream, which path has been well articulated in the manifesto and ideology of our great party,” 

   But the Director of Media and Publicity of the APCPCO, Malam Garba Shehu, the group said that under the present administration of President Jonathan, in a statement, alleged that Nigerians and the business community are reeling under multiple, discriminatory and harsh tax regime.

  “The prevailing harsh tax regime under the present PDP government has caused untold hardship on the population, while manufacturing industries in the country are threatening to shut down their operations due to high electricity tariff imposed on them when they depend largely on generating sets to power their factories,” Shehu said.

    “An APC administration,” he said, “will make life more bearable and manageable for both the citizens and the business sector by entrenching discipline in public administration across all sectors of governance. Second, the party will plug all loopholes through which public funds are being lost. 

       “When these loopholes and accompanying wastages are plugged and corruption reduced to a minimum or totally stamped out as promised by our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the government will have reasonable quantum of funds for social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.    “Third, an APC government will seek to ensure that all existing laws and policies on taxation will be implemented judiciously while tax authorities and administrators will be encouraged to do their work with the utmost transparency.

  “ The PDP is obviously scared of the credible alternative, which the APC represents and will go to any length to lie to Nigerians on any issue, including those on which the APC has not expressed a position. The majority of Nigerians are looking forward eagerly to the advent of an APC administration as a panacea to the deceit and fraud that has characterised the administration of the PDP in the last 16 years.