Lagos — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senate President David Mark have strongly condemned statements made by United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, during her two-day visit to the country.
But the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) commended the former first lady for not mincing words on issues of corruption and governance.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Ahmed Alkali, the ruling party said Clinton's reference to "failure of leadership" is inaccurate given that the present administration is committed to good governance and the rule of law.
According to the PDP, her observations were based on "misinformation" and does not reflect the reality on ground.
Some of Clinton's comments were sweeping, said the party.
PDP said Clinton was welcome to Nigeria but added that "we are at the same time concerned that some of her remarks are not only way off the mark but also based on misinformation."
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"Mrs. Clinton seems to have taken her briefs from individuals or groups and other failed politicians who have an axe to grind with the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We do not want to believe that her mission to Nigeria was meant to confer legitimacy to these groups who are pursuing narrow interests within the Nigeria political environment," the PDP added.
The PDP went on to argue that the commitment of Yar'Adua to resolving the Niger Delta conflict, strengthening the instruments of law, protecting the rights of citizens, reforming the electoral process and fighting corruption could not be faulted.
The party said that Yar'Adua's Seven-Point Agenda is a properly articulated tool for national rebirth and renewal. That is the government's response to the lapses caused by the inadequacies of the past, said the party.
The ruling party called on the US to find ways to encourage the growth of the country's democracy through constructive engagement. It advised against focusing on issues capable of undermining Nigeria's sovereignty or straining long established relations between both countries.
Responding to questions from reporters at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport last night, the Senate President criticized Clinton's view on Nigeria's Electoral Act.
Mark said there was nothing wrong with the Act. Rather than criticize the Electoral Act, he urged politicians to abide by the rules that guarantee free and fair elections.
He stated that the Electoral Act was not the reason politicians snatch ballot boxes during polls. He reiterated that rather than be dictated to on democracy, the country would decide what form of democracy suits her.
Meanwhile, the NBA said it is in agreement with Clinton's statement that corruption is one of greatest problems facing the country and that the menace was among other factors that have caused failure of governance.
A statement by the NBA President, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said: "The NBA wishes to align itself with the statement credited to the US Secretary of State, the summation of which was that corruption, amongst other factors have caused failure of governance in Nigeria."
Clinton left Nigeria today for Liberia as part of her seven-nation African tour. While in the country, she met with President Yar'Adua, the Foreign Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, and civil society groups.
She also hit hard on corruption, electoral reform and the Niger Delta.
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Its is a shame on PDP, and most disappointingly the so call Senate president who knows the whole truth about Nigeria, but pretends that all is well with Nigerians. Nigerians are living in abyss poverty, bad roads, poor electricity, no Jobs thereby giving the Lebanese the opportunity to exploit Nigerian graduates at chip salary. with our rich natural resources being shared among the few corrupt politicians, ( David Mark & Co)
Hilary Clinton said the truth about Nigeria, our leaders in PDP have failed Nigeria for years, and one ex military man who knows nothing in the political world is criticizing the truth told.
we can see why Nigeria will still be trailing behind because our politicians are all corrupt and hate the truth.
Finally, i want to use this opportunity to thank former first Lady, Hilary Clinton for saying the truth. God bless you and your family.
God bless Nigeria!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to do something to our so-called Leaders, seriously. There should be punitive measures for all their bastardly acts of curruptions and stupidity. Why would people in such high places decide not to see the ills of our society? Why? It is because they are not Leaders in the first place, but a bunch of psychos! Hilary Clinton said a little about the enourmous Nigerian problems. We are being taking for a ride because it is widely believed Nigerians cannot unite for a showdown viz: revolution. But time will tell because when you sample opinions of the public, it is the same; revolution. And just like the Niger-Delta crisis, the entire country may one day be engulfed in a bloody cleansing. My advise is for the Yar'adua administration to live up to expectations of all well-meaning Nigerians.
The truth is bitter. Nigeria leaders are always afraid to hear the truth and say the truth that is why what Hillary Clinton said did not go down well with the Senate President and PDP leaders. Can you imagine the reaction to an independent opinion about Nigeria? There is an adage in my native language that says 'no one can see the back of his own head its only another person that can see it and tell you how it looks like'. PDP should not forget that Hillary Clinton does not benefit directly or indirectly from what she said. The benefit will only accrue to Nigerians if we listen and make corrections. But Nigerian leaders are interested in their self-satisfaction and that is why they will never say the truth. It is only in Nigeria that individual is paramount and at any cost to the Nation. President Yar'adua should be very attentive and use his inner eye to see all those in his administration that are mis-guiding him.
The so called the Peoples Democratic Party[PDP]and the Senate President need to tell the Nigerian people where the the U.S. Secretary of states is wrong about corruption in Nigeria.If he can not disprove what the United States Secretary of States said regarding Government backed corruption in Nigeria and so on,let him and the party clean up their mess or zip it up and stop making empty political noise that created this problem of which the senate president and the party are known for as Nigerian people have come to understand.Remember,government that does not honestly serve its people never survives. You and your party need to learn to change for better and stop attacking people who mention your corrupt system.
I DON,T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH NIGERIAN POLITICIANS .. INFACT I THINK SENATE PRESIDENT DAVID IS STILL BLIND THAT HE CAN NOT SEE . HILLARY CLINTON IS 100 % CORRECT IN ALL HER SPEACH. I THINK IS TIME WE TELL OLD CARGOS POLITICIANS ESPECIALLY P . D . P TO GO HOME AND SLEEP . NIGERIANS HAVE SURFERED ENOUGH AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
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