The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared Nigerian citizens as the true heroes of democracy, commending them for their faith, resilience and untiring support for democracy since 1999, in spite of efforts by few unpatriotic elements to destroy their sense of patriotism and truncate the process.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Sunday said the declaration was after a thorough appraisal of the contributions of the people towards the sustenance of democracy in the last 15 years.
“Indeed the real heroes of democracy are Nigerians citizens who daily make sacrifices for the sustenance of democratic rule in the last 15 years. It is their collective choice and resolve to support and maintain democracy as the only system of government for the actualization of our collective aspirations, irrespective of the challenges we face as a people, that have been the underlying impetus for the successes and growth recorded since the emergence of the PDP-led government in 1999”.
“Nigerians have demonstrated their commitment not only by continually trooping out in their millions to vote, defying the sun and the rains, but also in their patience, understanding and continued support for the unity of the nation and the government they love, despite the unrelenting efforts by unpatriotic elements to mislead them”, the party said.
The PDP stated with the support of Nigerians, its government has “not only sustained the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as one indivisible nation where all are free but also achieved an uninterrupted democratic rule by guaranteeing social justice and economic prosperity through strict adherence to the principles of equality and the rule of law”.
This, it said is in addition to guaranteed human rights, freedom of expression, freedom to information and freedom of association to all Nigerians in the last 15 years.
While appreciating Nigerians for voting and supporting it since 1999, the PDP said the “continued overwhelming victory at the polls remains a clear demonstration of the confidence reposed in it by the people as the only true national party and best vehicle for the delivery of democracy dividends to them.”
“This is a loud statement by Nigerians that they are, and will continue to be with the PDP. They have continuously shown that the opposition is not an option despite their ceaseless change of identity which only betrays their chameleonic nature and lack of clear-cut agenda for the people”, the statement said.
The party attributed the support of the people to its strict adherence to the principle of internal democracy, providing equal opportunity for every Nigerian to aspire to any position whatsoever without regard to religious, gender and ethnic considerations unlike in the opposition where a few undemocratic individuals appropriate power and hand-pick cronies for political office.
The statement charged all PDP elected and appointed officials at all levels to reciprocate the trust and support shown by Nigerians by redoubling their efforts and working harder to ensure that Nigerians do not only continue to enjoy the benefit of quality stewardship from the PDP but also vote en-masse for it in the 2015 general elections.
On its own part, the PDP leadership pledged to remain committed to the unity and welfare of the people and to continue to provide level playing ground for all Nigerians to canvass and pursue their aspirations within the ambit of the wider national interest, irrespective of religious, ethnic or gender considerations.
