BEVERLY HILLS, October 19, (THEWILL) – One of those aspiring to be the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, says the solution to the current challenges facing the country does not only lie in fighting corruption but in providing solution to the raging national disunity.
The former governor of Ogun state, who stated this on Wednesday while formally declaring his ambition for the PDP national chairmanship, described the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as a party that is not building leaders, and has failed to get national priorities right.
“Since 2015 however, Nigeria is yet to have an appreciable 12 months of economic growth under the APC. That’s an F9; failure. It is disquieting that the APC-led government claim to focus on fighting corruption, while facts on the ground suggests that Nigeria has become worse off and sinking low even in graft.
“For instance, latest corruption index in Nigeria (2016) according to Transparency International (the global watchdog for measuring corruption) was 2.8/10. Before 2015, Nigeria had a P8 in corruption but and A3 in economic growth, now we have an F9 in both economic growth and corruption.
“About two months ago, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria’s number 1 repository of facts and data, revealed that more than N402 Billion was paid as bribes within the last 12 months. What is N402 Billion? – It is more than the Federal Government’s capital budget for Defense, Education and Health combined together,” he said.
Daniel went on to state that indiscipline and impunity, lack of internal democracy, imposition of candidates as well as dangerous introduction of ticket racketeering to unpopular candidates greatly contributed to the undoing of the PDP.
He pledged that the new PDP leadership under his watch will keep working towards reducing corruption, but using a different strategy.
The ex-governor stated that a new PDP led by him is going to fight Poverty like never before, stressing that “the judiciary, legislative or several unhappy people are not our enemies. We have a common enemy in ‘failed promises’. A common enemy in ‘poverty’. A common enemy in ‘high interest and inflation rates; which by the way is not interesting.”
He stated that rather than fight other arms of government, “we will promote national integration. I want to be a leader not just the National Chairman of the PDP. My role is more important than my title.”
Speaking further on the state of the nation, the former governor said, “The solution to a national problem cannot just be in fighting corruption; the solution is to first fight ‘national disunity’.
“Recently, Prof Ricardo Hausman of the Harvard Kennedy School concluded a research where he stated “Fighting Corruption will not end Poverty”. His research showed that improving Government effectiveness played a significant role in fighting poverty, and that fighting corruption had an insignificant role in ending poverty.
“Part of the questions we also failed to ask and provide answers to was why many young Nigerians became unhappy with our party. The pattern of the votes reflected not only who people elected as their President, it more importantly showed who people ‘refused’ to elect as their President. When the results were finally announced, the evidence had shown that the priority and fight of the next Nigerian leader (Muhammadu Buhari) should have been ‘National Acceptance’ before fighting ‘National Corruption’
“Let me also say, that today, the difference between the PDP and APC is in two words ‘Vision’ and ‘Mission’. The PDP has a ‘Vision’ for Nigeria, while the APC only has a ‘Mission’
“Like I said, especially in the light of current reality in the management of our Commonwealth in the present dispensation, Nigeria’s economy was better managed, under the PDP. For instance, under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s leadership (1999 – 2007), a government ran by the PDP, the Nigerian economy grew by 91% (as measured by GDP), while during the administration of Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua/Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (2007/2010 – 2014), the economy grew by 24%. That has been the fastest growth under civilian rule in the history of our great nation, and it happened under the PDP.”
About the Author
