The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come out with its policy direction for wealth creation instead of engaging in unfounded claims.
The challenge is contained in a statement issued by Mr Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, on Monday in Abuja.
Metuh said the APC should also be bold to present its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to face President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP candidate, in a debate on the country`s economy.
He dismissed APC’s claim on the state of the nation’s economy as wild and baseless allegation “anchored on tissues of lies and unreliable social media posts.’’
He said the APC had been distorting facts on glaring achievements in the nation’s economy under President Jonathan in spite of the daunting challenges.
The PDP spokesman maintained that the party had continued to maintain high moral ground in keeping to issue-based campaign.
He, therefore, described the APC statement as a ploy to divert attention from its lack of acceptable economic blue-print.
He also said it was a cover-up to the refusal of its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to intellectually engage President Jonathan on economic and other matters in debate.
“Nobody can deny the fact that we have made improvements in our economy in the last four years under President Jonathan.
“The APC cannot detract the fact that under President Jonathan our economy has grown to become the largest in Africa and the third fastest growing in the world,’’ Metuh said.
This feat, he stressed, did not come by accident but through meticulous application of policies by President Jonathan as attested to by renowned economic experts and leading international rating agencies.
Metuh noted that Nigeria had become the primary investment destination in Africa under the Jonathan administration.
This, he said, was visible in the unprecedented growth of the private sector and influx of foreign direct investments in manufacturing, agriculture, retail, construction, hospitality, oil and gas and communication, among others.
According to the PDP spokesman, this has ensured massive employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
He added that the influx of international retail giants and the rebirth of shopping malls in major cities of the country, attested to the nation’s encouraging demographics and stronger purchasing power of citizens.
He maintained that the business-friendly environment created by the Jonathan administration had also led to revival of the manufacturing sector.
This, he added, was especially so, as leading car manufacturers such as Nissan, Hyundai and Kia were now setting up factories in the country.
Metuh said this was in addition to indigenous Innosons, Peugeot Nigeria and ANAMCO which had been providing business and employment for Nigerians.
