Jonathan remains sensitive to welfare of Nigerians – PDP

Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan would continue to be sensitive to the welfare of Nigerians in spite the insurgency.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Olise Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, in

reaction to a statement by the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The APC statement had portrayed Jonathan as `heartless’ for not shutting down governance over the April 14, bomb blast in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja.

Metuh maintained that the APC`s statement was another demonstration of the party`s support for terrorist agenda against the country.

He said that contrary to the allegations by APC, Jonathan had continued to be sensitive and responsive to the welfare of Nigerians.

The party spokesman said that the plan of the opposition party to impose reign of terror in the country had failed.

Buttressing claims that Jonathan was sensitive to the plight of Nigerians, Metuh recalled that the president cancelled his planned trip to Ibadan as a result of the bomb blast.

He said that the president also visited the scene of the blasts and the injured in hospitals and gave directives on the matter.

Metuh recalled that after the Dana crash of June 3, 2012, the Nigerian flag was flown at half-mast, while the president and his entire cabinet refrained from celebrations.

“It is common knowledge that those behind the attacks seek to impose a reign of terror in our country, to cow the president.

“They also seek to dictate the tempo of government and ultimately shut down governance,’’ the statement quoted Metuh as saying.

He maintained that the Federal Government would not in any way be cowed or intimidated to abandon its mandate, saying that Jonathan had remained committed to the welfare and security of Nigerians.

Metuh said that that the opposition expected the president to be intimidated by acts of terrorism.

“The leadership of the PDP and the government we formed shall not be cowed, intimidated, harassed or tele-guided by acts of terrorism.

“The PDP-led administration was popularly elected by Nigerians and shall never allow terrorists and their supporters to dictate the tempo of government which has been their direct objective, ’’ he said.

He explained that it was a globally settled principle that no government allowed terrorist to influence the course of its action, otherwise they would have achieved their purpose.

This, he said, was the reason the Conservative Party continued with its convention in Brighton, in October 1984, even though the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was almost killed by an IRA bomb.

Metuh recalled that that five people were killed in that incidence, including two high-profile members of the Conservative Party, while 31 people were injured.

The party spokesman, however, called on Nigerians to be vigilant and wary always about their environment, especially suspicious movement.

He commended Jonathan for remaining steadfast and focused in delivering his transformation agenda in spite of the insurgency and unnecessary attacks by the opposition. (NAN)