The
National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olisa Metuh,
has issued his first public statement since his release from prison custody
Thursday.
Mr.
Metuh was freed on bail after over three weeks in detention. He is standing
trial for alleged corruption.
In
his first public statement since leaving the Kuje prison, Mr. Metuh said the
PDP has since overcome the initial trauma that accompanied the electoral
setback of the 2015 general elections, and is now poised to regain power at the
center in 2019.
Mr.
Metuh said the, “recent variance of voices” from its members is as a result of
the party’s foundation of liberal democracy, which he described as a mark of
strength, adding that the party has adequate internal mechanisms to resolve all
issues within its fold.
The
comments were contained in his opening remark at a meeting of the party’s
Publicity Directorate with some visiting parliamentarians from the United
Kingdom, led by Mark Field, member of Parliament and Chairman of International
Office of the Conservative Party, and Colin Bloom, Director of Outreach-BCP in
Abuja on Friday.
He
told the visitors that the PDP faced serious challenges soon after it lost in
the elections, culminating in the resignation of its National Chairman, a
development that created some challenges within the party, but assured that
every issue would be resolved by the party leadership by next week.
In
his remark, Mr. Field advised the party to ensure that it does not trash its
brand in the face of challenges. He noted that while it is common for some
party members to demand the removal of leaders after electoral defeat, care
must be taken not to jeopardize institutional memory in the party.
“Never
trash your brand no matter whatever the government of the day is saying about
you”, he said.
The
interaction was attended by PDP publicity staff, social media workers of the
party and officials of the International Republican Institute, IRI, who
facilitated the visit.
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