TheCable

Adamu Mu’azu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC), to a debate on the economy.

According to Mu’azu, the achievements of the PDP-led federal government in the economy would give the party the cutting edge to victory in the general election.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he slammed the main opposition party, saying it had no clue about the economy.

“Whether anyone likes it or not, it is the performance of the Peoples Democratic Party in the economy that will give us the cutting edge to victory in the 2015 presidential, gubernatorial and other parliamentary elections next month,” he said.

Mu’ azu argued that Nigeria did not just become the biggest economy in Africa by propaganda or by any fluke, but by a deliberate plan of the Jonathan administration.

“I challenge the opposition to a debate on the economy, the very crucial indices for measurement of a successful government seeking re-election in most advanced democracies of the world.

“That our economy is rated above South Africa’s is not therefore a miracle; it was the target that President Jonathan gave the economic team led by our minister of finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and they achieved the objective with flying colours.

“It was the economic team that spearheaded the intensification of agricultural solution to the diversification of our political economy from oil to food and agricultural production on a large scale. This is why our country is now producing enough food to feed the nation, exporting the excess and earning foreign exchange. PDP-controlled states have tapped into the federal government food programme, resulting in Dry Season farming, heavy rice production in states with natural advantages in food production. Government has also invested huge sums to prop APC states with similar advantage.”

Mu’ azu asserted that it was because of the successful management of the economy that investors were pouring into the country from Europe, America and Asia, particularly China.

“I want to take the opportunity of this press statement to appeal to the national assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, better known as PIB because of the added boost it will give the economy,” he continued.

“Our opponents in this election have no clue on economic management. The APC have never told us how they will change a winning economic formula that is already on ground and acknowledged worldwide. What they intend to do to our economy is to return it to the archaic counter trade formula that they used to run down the economy when their presidential candidate called the shots at Dodan Barracks as head of state in 1985.

“They say we should not judge them on their past record, but how else can they be judged other than through the work they have done in the past. The Jonathan administration is proud of its past record and is happy to be judged by it.

“Why will an opposition party who claim that they are agents of change not be judged on their past record in government?What change can they produce without reference to their past record? As far as the economy of Nigeria is concerned today, the  present administration of President Jonathan is running on a clear record of good performance and should be voted in for a second term.”