Lagos Assembly faults Yoruba leaders on Jonathan's re-election bid

LAGOS State House of Assembly Wednesday faulted the endorsement of
President Goodluck Jonathan's second-term bid by some Yoruba leaders
and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing it as
"another in a series of paid endorsements by President Jonathan."
The House also took exception to reasons adduced by the PDP South-West
caucus for endorsing Jonathan attheir meeting in Lagos on Tuesday,
saying "it is ridiculous and laughable for the leaders to have
described Jonathan as someone with exceptional leadership qualities."
A statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information,
Strategy, Security and Publicity and Spokesman of the House, Segun
Olulade, stated that the endorsementwas a clear indication of the
deep-seated fears and trepidation nursed by the ruling party ahead of
the 2015 general elections.
They noted that while the endorsement was no threat to the chances of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates in the coming
elections, the poor performance rating of the Jonathan administration
in addressing the various challenges facing the country,as well as the
incessant crises that had rocked the PDP structures nationally and in
many states of the federation, had made its leaders to become more
desperate, "making them resort to crude ploys aimed at cajoling
Nigerians and the rest of the world that all is well with the
country."
The lawmakers said Nigerians were not only tired of the PDP but were
also "well prepared to carry the banner of the APC as a better
alternative to the ruling PDP."
According to them: "It is ridiculous and laughable for the PDP to have
described Jonathan as someone with exceptional leadership qualities in
spite of the huge failure of his administration in moving the country
forward."
Reacting to accusation by the Chairman of Caretaker Committee of the
South-West PDP, Ishola Filani, who accused the ACN of poaching
PDPmembers to field them as candidates during elections, the lawmakers
said the allegation was frivolous.
Contrary to the allegation, according to him, "it is the members of
PDP whomigrate to the ACN when they realise that the PDP does not have
any credibility or integrity whatsoever that could help them realise
their political aspirations.
"PDP members often turn to ACN to seek refuge and political survival
having realised the reactionary and retrogressive tendencies of the
PDP."
The lawmakers added that ACN, and indeed the APC, would continue to
welcome all repentant members of the PDP to its fold in as much as
they are ready to conform with the progressive posture of the party.