The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has taken a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) after their comment that the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu.
The PDP in a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary, Dr Ifeanyi M. Osuoza on Friday accused APC of playing thuggery to denigrate the Minority Leader over filthy issues.
“Our attention has been drawn to a recent Press Statement by the All Progressives Congress, APC, signed by Ebata Onojeghuo Esq, Delta State Publicity Secretary, APC and we note with dismay, the unfortunate and regrettable manifestation of disrespect for the constitutional authority vested in the person and office of the Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That the APC would reference and justify with its warped logic, the unconscionable acts of a bunch of misinformed and misguided youths to obstruct, impede, embarrass the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, with an unruly display of hooliganism, is not only in bad faith, no matter how genuine their intentions and demands may be, but an act of barbarism, couched in the form of an obviously scripted protest deliberately taken beyond the boundaries of civility.
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“We have no doubts whatsoever that this show of shame obviously contrived to embarrass the distinguished Minority Leader in his own Federal Constituency, is the handiwork of the APC, who apparently deployed their thuggish agents in the Constituency, to engage and compromise some idle, misguided and disgruntled youths, who obviously relish every opportunity to exhibit their recalcitrance.
“This crass and unfortunate manifestation of disrespect for recognized constitutional authority is a clear and shameful reflection of the brazen disregard with which the APC equally treats its own members occupying such constitutionally empowered positions and we are not at all surprised by their robust and gleeful endorsement of this primitive act of rowdy protest which ought to and should be roundly and comprehensively condemned, by all civilized individuals and groups. There are better and more responsible, civilized ways of presenting issues than this.
“Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, is a mercurial and outstanding PDP lawmaker, who has, in his two separate tenures at the House, distinguished himself both as a lawmaker and as the Minority Leader, with an excellent track record of unparalleled delivery of democratic dividends to his constituents in the four Local Government Areas of the Federal Constituency he represents and to the Nigerian masses, as one of the most robust and dynamic leaders in the country, in the opposition gallery of the lower House of the National Assembly.
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“We are proud to confirm that Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, keyed into the SMART Agenda and the #Stronger Delta objective of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration from the onset and has been one of the exemplary leaders in the implementation of the initiatives, through his comprehensive empowerment programmes, jobs creation, skills acquisition, infrastructural development projects and other incentives, which have impacted positively on the lives of his people across all strata and the transformation of the communities in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
“It is therefore totally unacceptable for the APC to cast aspersion on the Delta State Government for apologising to one of our star performers in the democratic space and we want to state here categorically that we not only fully aligned with the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Urban and Highways), Mr. Noel Omodon by adding our own voice to the apologies, but we are fully satisfied with his very concise, cerebral and articulate explanation of the circumstances that resulted in delaying the completion of the project.
“Let us put it on record by reminding the APC that due to the sorry state of Federal roads, particularly in Delta State, heavy-duty trucks passing through the Issele-Uku metropolis to access the Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway, particularly, the Ogbeofu Road, which is the very artery of the Issele-Uku NYSC Orientation Camp Road Project, now put pressure on these State/Community roads, thereby destroying them.
“Sadly, the Deputy Senate President does not see any reason to comment or intervene on this dire situation which falls squarely on the table of the Federal Government and is yet another glaring example of APC’s ineptitude, which notwithstanding, the Delta State Government is finding a lasting solution to the terrible conditions of our Federal roads.
“We are quite pleased that Mr Omodon has equally expressed the sympathies of the State Government and identified with the pains the people of Aniocha North, particularly the inhabitants of Idumuje-Ugboko, Issele-Uku, Onicha-Uku, and other road users in the area have to go through as a result of the road, even as he has also assured the people that all the necessary logistics, equipment and materials have been secured and the project will be handled with accelerated effort and efficiency to ensure speedy completion, to the shame and chagrin of the APC detractors.
“We have consistently maintained that the PDP administration of Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is a listening and action Government, which has always responded and will continue to deliver the full dividends of democracy to Deltans, especially with the continued active contributions and invaluable support of the Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader Federal House of Representatives, as we march towards achieving a #Stronger Delta for all Deltans,” the statement reads.
