TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed Muhammadu Buhari to the 2015 presidential contest, describing him as a respected Nigerian.

Buhari declared his intention to contest for president in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday.

However, the PDP faulted the statements of the former head of state at the declaration rally, describing them as distortions and misrepresentation of facts.

In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary the party said: “While we congratulate and wish him well in his ambition, we have noted some distortions and misrepresentation of facts in his speech and consequently wish to put the record straight.

“According to General Buhari, Nigeria was generating 4000 mws of electricity in 1999 but has today fallen short of that capacity under the PDP. However, the fact remains that as at May 29 1999 when PDP took office, Nigeria was generating 1600 megawatts. We urge Nigerians to fact-check on this. Corroboration of this figure can also be sought from the World Bank, the IMF and multiple other authoritative sources.

“In contrast, it is common knowledge that under the transformative leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria now generates 4568 megawatts of electricity; a triple of what was generated in 1999.

“Again, General Muhammadu Buhari stated that a growing economy which the PDP inherited in 1999 has been destroyed within 15 years in office. This also does not represent the reality on the ground. The fact which can be verified from the handover notes from the military as well as from the World Bank and IMF is that Nigeria was the third largest economy in Africa in 1999, behind South Africa and Egypt. The nation was also rated number 48 in the world, our foreign reserve at $3.6 billion while our foreign debt stood at $36 billion.”

The PDP claimed that under its leadership the economy of, Nigeria had improved greatly.

“It is incontrovertible that in the last 15 years of PDP leadership, especially the last three years of dynamic and purposeful administration provided by President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s economy has become the largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world. Similarly, our foreign reserve is now over $39 billion, and our foreign debts reduced to less than $7 billion from $36 billion,” the party argued.

“Besides, General Buhari also told supporters that Nigeria’s agricultural sector has gone down under the PDP, a statement which also does not reflect the reality on the ground.

“Verily, the fact remains that in the last 15 years under the PDP, indeed, the last three years of vigorous application of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, there has been an unparalleled government input in agriculture, thereby pushing production to an all-time high. Moreover, Nigeria food import has reduced from N1.1 trillion in 2010 to N684 billion.

“While we understand that the APC is hell-bent on using every opportunity at its disposal to discredit the PDP in quest for political control, we urge their handlers to always cross-check their facts and stop making mockery of respected Nigerians in the mould of General Buhari.

“Finally, the PDP again welcomes General Buhari into the presidential race and hopes that in the future, he will not allow himself to be further embarrassed in the course of his campaign.”