Praise singers misled Jonathan, says Mu’azu

Firstclass newsline gathered that Mu'azu, who is under pressure from
some members of the party to resign for not doing enough to boost
Jonathan's chances during electioneering, took to his Twitter handle
on Tuesday to defend himself and other members of the party's National
Working Committee.
Insisting that he would not resign, he said those that were
praise-singing and insincerely advising" the President during the
campaign period were responsible for the PDP defeat in the March
28 election.
The PDP chairman also said the low perception of the President and
the PDP in the North was partly responsible for the low votes they
garnered from the region.
Mu'azu, who is a former Governor of Bauchi State, stated that he could
not have convinced the people of the region to vote for Jonathan.
He said, "The perception of Jonathan and our party in the North was at
an all time low because of the lies the people were told by
politicians.
"Those who blame us for not delivering maximum votes to the President
in the North seem to have forgotten that it is the people who vote."
Mu'azu denied allegations that he conspired with the All Progressives
Congress to ensure that the Presidency was returned to the North.
He said he had been a member of the PDP since 1999 and had helped the
party to remain in power for 16 years.
To him therefore, it is unfair for anyone to accuse him of tribalism.
He said in the face of insult and ridicule, he continued to support
Jonathan till the end.
He said, "I have repeatedly reminded many that I, Adamu Mu'azu, has
been in the PDP since 1999 as a matter of principle and strong
ideology.
"Those who insinuate that I did not do my best for our great party and
Mr. President during the elections are being economical with the
truth.
"In the face of abuse, insult and open ridicule by our friends and
brothers, we supported our leader, President Jonathan, faithfully.
"I gave my best and my all to the campaign of Mr. President and the
party. We went to every state in Nigeria to campaign."
The PDP chairman stressed that those calling for his resignation
alongside other NWC members were the ones that contributed to Jonathan
and PDP's defeat.
He said, "For those wishing that I will either defect or resign, I
advise you to kindly stop the wishful thinking. We have a party to
lead.
"Those who are seeking change in the entire NWC were the same who
brought us to this level with their insincerity and praise-singing.
"We are committed to repositioning our great party, the PDP, and we
will provide able leadership by restoring its glory."
Mu'azu urged all Nigerians to support the PDP as democracy cannot
thrive without a formidable opposition.
He however called on all members of the party to sheathe their swords
and work with him to reposition the PDP.
But as he twitted, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is one of
those calling for the resignation of the NWC members, said he had
evidence that Mu'azu helped the APC to win the elections on March 28
and April 11.
Fayose, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public
Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, wondered how the PDP
could lose woefully in Bauchi State where Mu'azu, Governor Isa
Yuguda and the Minister for the FCT, Bala Mohammed, hail from.
He said, "How do we explain the PDP losing so scandalously in Bauchi
State despite the presence of the National Chairman, the FCT Minister
and the state governor?
"I am even more particular about the national chairman because he sold
the party to the opposition. I have cogent evidence of his unholy
alliance with the opposition before the elections and if they go any
further, I will expose all his underhand deals.
"I want to say it again that I have no apology for calling for the
resignation of the NWC members, especially the national chairman.
After all, someone resigned his position as the national chairman for
Alhaji Mu'azu to assume office."
The governor said in saner climes, Mu'azu would have been made to
resign, adding that a general who leads his men to defeat should not
be allowed to be in charge again.
He also berated the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, for
claiming that governorship aspirants were given about N100m each to
campaign.
Metuh had also blamed Jonathan's campaign team and overzealous
supporters for the defeat of Jonathan and the PDP.
He specifically mentioned hate campaign against Buhari, who he said
was revered in the North as a contributory factor for PDP's poor
performance in the region.
Fayose had spearheaded a series of controversial campaigns against
Buhari before the elections.
However, Fayose said it was unfortunate that the NWC could indirectly
accuse him of contributing to Jonathan's defeat.
The governor said all he received from the PDP during the June 21,
2014 governorship election and the March 28 and April 11, 2015
elections was N30m.
He said, "I have no apology on my position on the NWC because their
responsibility as a party does not take away their failure in the last
general elections.
"Only N30m was received for the last two elections and to the glory of
the Almighty God and support of Ekiti people, we won all elections
outright. I therefore demand the mode with which money was released to
me by the NWC."
Firstclassnewsline.net