Emerging reports have it on Wednesday that the question of what the difference is between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) should seize to be as, according to Facebook activists loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari, there difference is clear.
The social media discourse evoked by an activist and journalist to be referred to in this report as “the author” was titled, “If you still don’t see difference between APC and PDP, read this by me to a doubting Thomas.”
According to the post, the question “Pdp APC what’s the difference” is no longer fashionable.
Responding to the asker, he said, “Delete this comment, Forward Naija, it is long no longer popular. It is hypocritical statement. It is the statement of the confused and as a friend, you are not a confused person. But before you delete it, see one difference, transparency that is based on fact and figure.” He said and then went on to highlight one major aspect of difference between the recent past and the present governments of PDP-led and APC-led Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In one year PDP through Customs generated N162 billion but remitted N2billion to state treasury. Where did they keep the remaining N160 billion?
“But APC in its first one year through customs generated N903 billion and remitted all to state treasury. Do you still say PDP and APC have no difference? This last June, the same customs announced it generated N468 billion in six months, and remitted all. That is far above PDP’s of one year.
“If you still can’t find the difference, then I will begin to find out if I have not accepted a wrong person as friend,” the activist responded to the person who mischievously asked what is the difference between PDP and APC.
Other interlocutors who contributed to the discourse included Biodun Bello, Molade Bisiriyu, who both agreed with the author as Bisiriyu said, “Thank u my brother, God bless u,& your family.” Prince Demola Adegboye also contributed saying, “The difference is clear.”
But Patrick O Innocent appeared not to be easily convinced by the facts and figures presented by the author when he said, “That figure is confusing… In one year they generated 903 billion and in six months total 468 billion.” Innocent was however replied before the author by AB Eleyele, who said, “Don’t be confused like PDP followers now, my brother. In the first year Custom generated 903b and in another 6 months, it generated more than 460b.”
The discourse nearly went controversial with Patrick O Innocent retorting, “And what a demand for clear understanding has to do with PDP followers? And mind u, am not a fanatic political followers.”
At this point, former Director of General PRODA, Engr. Edmund Kaine, who contributed from Enugu, South East Nigeria, intervened praising the effort of the author of the post to have come up with what he once described as beautiful way of highlighting the progress of government, positive or negative.
Engr. Kaine therefore challenged the Nigerian media to repeatedly carry news about the singular fact presented as centre of the discourse and see if many more Nigerians would not see the light.
“O dear, o dear, could this be true? Let every news media carry only this news for one week and see if many more Nigerians would see light!”
The author however replied Patrick O Innocent: “We all agreed that we will not be PDP type who speak first before they think. This attitude makes one lose his or her integrity and credibility.
“You should have thought deeply before you came up with this comment about your confusion. What is confusing about those figures? Have the Federation Account handlers told you that the figures do not match both on paper and in cash? That is where you should have confusion. Except that you are telling me that I have overrated you in term of intellectualism.
“The first year was time smuggling was still seriously thriving. Not many Nigerians wanted to pay into the Nigerian economy. They rather took their consignments to Benin Republic, pay into their economy and then smuggle at full force into Nigeria.
“But now, more importers are getting the patriotic sense being preached by the Customs CG Col. Hameed Ali. It is paying off. You should therefore rather than getting yourself confused appreciate the change that the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Government has bequeathed to us in this country, economically, politically and socially.
“At any rate, I appreciate your coming because your comment plays a part in the public discourse that I have evoked.” He said.
Appreciating the contribution of the former PRODA boss, the author said, “Thank you Daddy, Engr. Edmund Kaine. I must say you are indeed the one highlighting for the media, editorial direction that can truly make the better Nigeria and restore the confidence of the public in the media professionals. Many of these information were actually reported by all the papers, The DEFENDER, Vanguard, Guardian, even Punch, Tribune, The Parroters online and of course The NATION.
“The problem is that many Nigerians who read have a mindset for him what they want to read. Just like one asking why Fayose was not part of delegation to Buhari, I said Fayose would see the truth there and would come back to tell you what was false. Why should such people be taken serious at all?
“However, one thing that is lacking in the media is evoking a public discourse based on these progresses. That will surely be done henceforth and you will see it.”
Responding as the last contributor as at the time of filing this report, Engr. Edmund Kaine noted that, “If the media feed their public with correctly balanced information, even a biased and ignorant fanatic cannot spread the infection that has taken him over.”
