Social Media Buzz: PDP’s apology and APC’s lamentation

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PDP’s apology and APC’s lamentation

As 2019 campaign train steams speedily to the station. Politicians are already in top gear, posturing and promising absurdities, to grab the electorate’s attention and votes.

So, three years after losing the presidency in 2015 and less than a year to the next general elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) turned up with a public apology to Nigerians. In what PDP national chairman termed ‘mistakes’ it made during its 16 years of governance.

However, in an attempt to de-market the party, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during a colloquium to mark the 66th birthday of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took turns to contribute chapters to the voluminous book of ‘lamentation on PDP’ aka the blame book written by the APC.

Notable contributors to the ‘blame book’ include: President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, John Odigie Oyegun, and the celebrant, Tinubu.

Remarkably, Osinbajo contributed more chapters than all others (no wonder he is a professor). The Asiwaju as he is fondly called by his admirers, in his contribution specifically asked Nigerians to reject PDP’s apology.

However, though the apology seemed late and opportunistic in terms of timing, it is commendable that the former, all powerful ruling party, deemed it fit to humble itself and apologise for its ‘grave misdemeanors.’

It is also symbolic that the former biggest party choose the holy week, which is the last week in the Lenten season, to repent of their ‘accumulated sins’ of 16 years.

Naturally, given the spirit of the season, the PDP should be forgiven. As they say: To err is human and to forgive is divine. But in Nigeria, political sins are never forgiven, former President Olusegun Obasanjo readily comes to mind.

This is coupled with the fact that many Nigerians see PDP’s apology as a Greek gift. And as it is with all Greek gifts, the PDP apology is lacking in credibility and should be taken with a pinch of salt.

For this group, to apologise is one leg of repentance, and to make restitution or at least show clear plans to make restitution is the second leg of repentance. The PDP apology is without the second leg and therefore not more than political gimmickry.

The party ought to be clear on how it will make amends for its many sins so as to win credibility, it apparently and desperately seeks, for the 2019 elections.

It is on the basis of transparency and restitution that the APC is calling on the PDP not to just apologise but return the billions it allegedly looted in the 16 years of its reign.

How realistic is that, one may ask. Given that many of those who allegedly looted the nation’s common wealth during ‘those 16 years’ are now in the APC.

It is open secret, with the exception of a few, that our political leaders are the same. Whether they claim to be progressives, raising bunches of broom or democratic (covering themselves from the rain/sunshine with umbrellas).

Indeed, the dramatis personae of both parties, the APC and the PDP, are Siamese twins with identical DNA of ‘roguery.’

In fact, PDP is shameless and does not deny the allegation of its twin brother, the APC, that it ravaged the public treasury. Instead the PDP fired an “we-are-all-rogues” offensive, blasting the APC thus: “If there is any party that should refund looted funds, it is the APC, which directly used stolen money to scheme in the election of President Buhari in 2015, while known culpable persons now sit comfortably around the Presidential table, still superintending over the looting of our common patrimony.”

Now, will the APC be so incensed by the PDP allegation of corruption that it will put its campaign funding books in public glare as an ultimate act of transparency? That is not likely.

As 2019 approaches, the responsibility to choose who should go free between Barnabas ‘the thief’ and Jesus ‘the Christ’ lies with Nigerians.

Twitter
PDP apology also took over twitter Nigeria. Here are some of the tweets

Pius Adesanmi @pius_adesanmi
I’d say almost 60% of the criminal PDP element responsible for a 16-year crime spree are now I APC. Does this apology come from them too? Remnants in PDP are recidivists. APC is Ebola. Neither side can be born again via an apology.

Big Man @SundayOgo06
PDP apologizes to Nigerians for 16 years mistakes. Firstly, they should itemize those mistakes. Secondly, give Nigerians 16 years to consider their apology.

Abubakar Sidiq Usman
@MrAbuSidiq
Between the apology of the PDP and the return of the wealth of the country stolen throughout the stay of the party in power, which would you prefer?

Souljah @jeffphilips1
It’s confirmed, Lai Mohammed has taken over the role of the APC spokesman. He has bombed the PDP again over their apology in his usual stern fashion

RPG @ATM_ReGe
So apparently PDP can apologize… I wouldn’t mind if their E-Lords here too can also tender their apologies… What a time to be alive!! Fela once sang that “Government are instrument of magic”. Lo, I believed now.

Dr. Tony Akabuno @tonyakabuno
The PDP chairman’s apology to Nigerians for 16years of Abysmal Delivery, Bad Governance & Decadent Leadership, is the first step to healing
The next and main step, is for PDP and it’s Siamese twin APC, to take a TERMINAL break from the political space, for a VISIONARY leadership

Tim John. @TimmyJohn69
The PDP’s so-called apology is too hollow, too political and too belated to make any sense. A leopard can’t change its spots.

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