DEMOCRACY AT WORK

In response to the challenges of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was formed by like-minded individuals to mobilize Nigerians to build a nation responsive to the aspirations of its people. In the past 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party has been at the center of democratic governance in the country.

Within this numbers of years, many has attempted to discredited PDP government as not making any achievable impacts since 1999 but it is worthy to note  that the Party has deliver on its mandate in line with the vision of the founding fathers and its manifesto.

From President Olusegun Obasanjo to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and now President Goodluck Jonathan administration, PDP had recorded landmark achievements in all sectors of the economy.

From the onset, Obasanjo was able to attract technocrats and Nigerian expatriates to his administration. They were also able to plan various reforms in the country’s administration. They made effective contribution to the country’s economic planning and development. Before Obasanjo’s administration, Nigeria’s GDP growth had been painfully slow since 1987, and only managed 3% between 1999/2000. 

However, under Obasanjo, the growth rate doubled to 6% and Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose from $2 billion in 1999 to $43 billion on leaving office in 2007. He was able to secure debt pardons from the Paris and London Club amounting to some $18 billion and paid another $18 Billion to be debt free.

The Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration recorded some achievements despite its short life span. During his administration, unconditional Amnesty was granted to the militants in the Niger Delta who took arms against the federal government on the issue of marginalization. In the disarmament program, there was no single gunshot which was unprecedented in any disarmament program globally. The Niger Delta Amnesty Program increases the oil revenue in the country and boosts the economy drastically.

The Jonathan administration is not left out as he has improved tremendously through its numerous reforms in all sector of the economy. In December last year, President Goodluck Jonathan presented his mid-term report highlighting his administration’s achievements in the last two years from 2011-2013.

Against the backdrop of widespread criticism and media campaign to discredit his administration, we deem it necessary to embark on this publication to properly inform Nigerians and the larger society on the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan administration. 

In this edition, our main focus is to highlight the key achievements of Jonathan administration which was presented in his Mid-Term Report especially with the reform programs that are yielding positive results. You will be taken to memory lane on how PDP came into existence and who were the pioneer leaders. We also have lists of Who’s Who in Peoples Democratic Party who has contributed immensely to the growth and progress of the Party in the past years. Of course, you can’t exempt the likes of Alex Ekwueme, Ahmadu Ali, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Goodluck Jonathan, Namadi Sambo, Bamanga Tukur, Tony Anenih, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ahmed Mua’zu, Godswill Akpabio, Aliyu Babangida Muazu, Kema Chikwe, Zainab Maina, Olisa Metuh, Graham Douglas, etc. The list is endless. We’ll pay tribute to our pioneer National Chairman, late Chief Solomon Lar as a mark of honour to him.

PDP Today is aimed at bringing to public knowledge the landmark achievements of PDP administration and to encourage Nigerians to continue to have faith in the Party to deliver on its democratic mandate. These and many more are important information that you will find in this maiden edition.

In subsequent edition of PDP Today, we will bring to the knowledge of our members, teeming supporters, and indeed the general public the major achievements of PDP administration in all PDP states in the country. Stay tune and have a pleasant reading.