By TINA TIMOTHY

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being afraid to meet Nigerians at the general elections in 2027.

PDP, in a statement on Monday, November 4, 2024 signed by its Oyo State Acting Publicity Secretary, Michael Ogunsina, disclosed this while reacting to a recent statement by APC National Secretariat regarding Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde?s comments on the general elections.

The statement read: ?We read with amusement a statement issued on Sunday by the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) attacking Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for saying what is an obvious truth that the 2027 general election would be a contest between the APC and the people of Nigeria.

?Democracy is about politicians meeting the people at the polls. Why is the APC afraid of meeting the people at the polls in 2027? A party that has been doing the will of the people would thank Governor Makinde for pairing it with the people. But the sinner will run when nobody is pursuing them. The APC is that sinner. It shall not go unpunished.?

According to the statement, ?APC statement was very unnecessary, wrongly directed and wrongly themed? its leaders lead extravagantly but ?inflict pain and more pain? on the people who invested their mandate and hope in the party during the 2023 elections.

The statement continued: ?We believe that the APC statement was very unnecessary, wrongly directed and wrongly themed. If the APC and its Federal Government are doing well and the people are happy with them, why would they see Makinde?s statement as an attack on their government?

?It is our belief that to whom much is given, so much is expected. Nigerians invested their mandate and hope in the APC in the 2023 elections. From what the people have seen so far, it is clear that the only thing dear to the heart of the APC is to inflict pain and more pain on the people while its leaders revel in unconscionable enjoyment.?

The statement insisted that the APC is wrong about the Oyo state governor, who is busy fulfilling his mandate to the delight of his people, as his agenda for 2027 remains in the hand of God.

Continuing, the statement read: ?On what it called Governor Makinde?s 2027 ambition, again, the APC got its focus and its guessing wrong. Governor Makinde is too seasoned to be drawn into a matter that is clearly in the hands of God. He has said repeatedly that no one would set a 2027 agenda for him. He is maintaining that stance, even now.

?Our governor is busy fulfilling his promises to the people of Oyo State. And the people are very happy with him and with all he has been doing with their mandate. He is one leader who is not afraid to walk the streets of any city, town and village in his state. We wish the APC could come out, beat its chest and say the same of its leaders and government,?

While urging the ruling party to learn humility and remorse rather than being boastful, the opposition party also called on Nigerians ?to demand from the APC what it meant by ?looming prosperity? after almost two years in power wrecking businesses, unleashing poverty and inflicting unprecedented suffering on the people of Nigeria through its wrong policies,? adding that ?God will reward the APC and its leaders appropriately for all they have done with Nigeria and its people.?

?Instead of boasting of positive achievements, we note that the only offering the APC has for the people in that abusive press statement is the promise of what it called ?looming prosperity.? That is a shame. We urge Nigerians to demand from the APC what it meant by ?looming prosperity? after almost two years in power wrecking businesses, unleashing poverty and inflicting unprecedented suffering on the people of Nigeria through its wrong policies.

?Instead of abusing Governor Makinde, we implore the APC to reappraise itself and think deep on why it decided to impoverish the people and wreck our country contrary to its 2023 promise of prosperity for all. It should in fact, thank our governor for waking it up to the reality that all future elections will be a referendum on the APC for its wickedness and maladministration.

?We further advise the APC and its leaders to learn to be humble, be remorseful, repent from their misbehavour, and beg Nigerians for clemency. If the guilty learn to be truthful and drop their arrogance, they may gain God?s forgiveness and the people?s pardon.

?Finally, we reiterate Governor Makinde?s statement that the 2027 elections will be a straight contest between the APC and the hungry people of Nigeria. If the APC sees that statement of fact as a curse, then, too bad. Our prayer is that God will reward the APC and its leaders appropriately for all they have done with Nigeria and its people. We hope the party, its leaders and their government will have the heart to say amen to that prayer,? the statement added.