The Progressive Peoples Alliance has described as a mirage the pronouncement by the Peoples democratic Party that it hopes to reclaim all the South East states in the 2015 general election.
The party said with the abysmal record of the PDP in governance at the federal, state and local government levels, no one can trust it with power again.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PPA, Dr. Madukwe Ukaegbu, who spoke on behalf of the party in a statement, said the PDP has failed in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians and does not thus qualify to be entrusted with leadership again.
Ukaegbu said in the last 13 years that the PDP has been in power at the federal level and in most states of the federation, it has nothing to show for it except the few individuals elected on its platform who have distinguished themselves without serious input from the party.
Rather, he said PDP’s leadership has been characterized by bad governance, abuse of office, political intimidation, poor infrastructure, unemployment, insecurity, poverty and numerous other problems.
He said: “The state of infrastructure is worrisome, our roads have turned death traps, no access to basic health facilities, lack of quality education, economic depression, deteriorating airport facilities, insecurity, political instability and in essence underdevelopment.
“In 1998, 40 per cent of Nigerians lived below the poverty level but as at today the figure has risen to about 70 per cent and as we all know a hungry mind is the devil’s workshop.
” Nigerians cannot afford two square meals talk less of three square meals.
“Abuse of office under the PDP government has become a way of life leading to scams in pension, subsidy and Security and Exchange Commission administration.
“The level of unemployment has led the country into security problems such as Boko Haram, militancy, kidnapping, declaration of self government amongst others.
“The rule of law has been greatly abused, the judiciary has lost financial and administrative autonomy due to undue and overbearing influences by the government, leaving the lone voice to be deprived justice.
“The PDP-led government uses all state apparatuses, including anti-graft agencies, to fight their political enemies and many political opponents have been denied victory because elections are characterised by military intimidation with the use of armoured tanks, arms and ammunition to prevent people from exercising their voting rights.”
Ukaegbu advised the PDP government to forget winning future elections in the South East, stating that the era of military intimidation was over.
He added: “We are ready to face any force from the army, police, etc to ensure genuine democracy.
“We are tired of the so-called Abuja politicians who sing praises of government without having anything to show for it in terms of development in our region, having been deliberately marginalised for reasons unknown.
