Ahead of the general elections slated for March 28 and April 11 respectively, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Adamu Muazu yesterday expressed optimism that his party and its Presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan would win in the five states where their Governors defected to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

In a statement signed yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tony Amadi, Muazu alleged that the states were no longer functioning because the governors have used the state’s money to prop up the presidential ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari, retd.

Muazu, who noted that the governors have abandoned governance in desperation to win the 2015 elections, said, “The desperation of the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, to win the 2015 elections has led to the stoppage of most ongoing projects, particularly the five states of Kano, Adamawa, Rivers, Kwara and Sokoto, whose governors decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party. Following the day light hijack of the five states, Adamawa is back but the remaining four including Zamfara State will return to the PDP after the April 11 elections because their governors have used up their treasury to prop the presidential bid of their party.

“The governors of the five states left the PDP for over a year and seven months using the PDP manifesto to try and prop up their new allegiance to the APC. Unfortunately for their new party and their desperation to become the ruling party, they have made little or no progress, thus leaving their states impoverished as they concentrate on spending their state’s meager resources to support their party’s presidential election bid instead of providing dividends of democracy to the people.

“In Sokoto State, no new project has been started or completed since Governor Maigatakarda Wammako switched to the APC. His Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari who remained in the PDP has complained severally to the National Chairman that the people of Sokoto are being short changed because of lack of active governance in the state.

“The same goes for Rivers State, where the MonoRail venture of the state government has become a white elephant project while other infrastructure projects started when he was in the PDP has virtually been abandoned. Ditto to various abandoned road projects in the state capital and beyond. Before his defection, Amaechi and Akwa Ibom Governor Akpabio were involved in a healthy PDP-induced competition as some of the richest state Chief Executives and both governors revelled in the healthy competition.

“While Akwa Ibom has not only overtaken Rivers in the provision of democratic dividends, the quality of governance in Akwa Ibom state has outstripped those of Rivers State. If you take the stadia the two governors built in their respective states for comparison it is easy to find the one looking more solid and of international quality. While Akpabio’s Uyo Stadium is a pride to behold, it is also of international standard. Amaechi’s stadium hasn’t got the quality as in most APC controlled states where the penchant for poor quality output is well known.

“Talk about states and infrastructure development and you find that every PDP state has got an airport no matter the size of its federation account. The poorer states like Taraba and Kebbi have managed to put together magnificent airports. Checkout Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi started and finished under PDP administrations, its sheer quality and the new airport at Dutse in Jigawa state where Governor Sule Lamido has wrought wonders and you can begin to appreciate how PDP states are fastest in development. Bauchi has the Tafawa Balewa Airport with all the attributes of an international airport. PDP states are known for their fast-tracked development

“In comparison, APC states like Zamfara don’t even have a helipad let alone an airport while Yobe have none but its neighbour, Gombe, a PDP state has an airport. If the PDP controlled federal administration had folded its hands there would be no university in Zamfara state until President Goodluck Jonathan built a Federal University for the state.

“The APC administration in Zamfara, have no desire of building an airport not even air strip there, making it difficult for investment to come to the state. It is another ample reason why Nigerians should remain with PDP at all levels to have the chance of transformation in all sectors of the 36 states’ economies.

“The PDP is determined to claim back the states lost to carpet crossing and win all those states that have the potential for economic growth. Zamfara gave President Jonathan a tumultous reception and Kano was unbelievable in the quality crowds that attended the presidential campaign. PDP has shown that it is not only the party to beat in the forthcoming elections, but it is also the party that will transform the nation into a developed country.”

*Adapted from Vanguard. Photo shows Muazu

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