(http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/PDP.jpg) (http://peoplesdailyng.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/PDP.jpg)By Lawrence Olaoye
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took stock of the unfolding political events, including the merger arrangements by opposition parties, and submitted that there were positive signs and concrete indications that it will still win the Presidency and more states come 2015.
The party dispelled fears that divergence of views and opinions among its members was capable of weakening it ahead of 2015.
Instead, PDP said such squabbles are a reflection of its democratic stance where all members have an opportunity to air their views and to freely canvass their opinions, unlike what obtains in the rival parties where opinions and views of members are allegedly muzzled by political godfathers.
The PDP also dismissed as "shadow chasing and day dreaming", boasts by the leaders of the yet to be registered opposition coalition, the All Progressive Congress (APC), that they will take over government in 2015.
It said the opposition alliance would soon be in disarray adding that most of those in the ranks will be betrayed and victimized by the godfathers who see the coalition as their personal estates.
According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday, the party welcomes the opposition to the electoral contest in 2015 but predicted that they were already doomed to fail as Nigerians have since realized that they are merely "strange bed fellows" who have nothing to offer but united by bitterness, frustration, and religious and tribal sentiments.
Metuh said: "We welcome the opposition to the contest. However, they are already doomed to failure because Nigerians have since realized their undemocratic tendencies and desperation for power for selfish reasons.
"Nigerians know that they are merely strange bed fellows who are united by bitterness, frustration and religious and tribal sentiments and not for the national interest.
"They have continued to betray their lust and inner disposition by their utterances in seeking to "seize power" which has remained their only agenda.
"They fail to understand that in a democracy, power is not to be seized. It is conferred by the people and this is the reason the people have continued to identify with the PDP."
"We challenge the opposition also to be bold enough to hold primaries when the time comes. Many of those singing praises of the alliance will be betrayed and victimized by the godfathers and it will dawn on them that they have been deceived."
The Federal Government is to privatize the 10 independent power plants built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP).
Mr. James Olotu, Managing Director, NDPHC, made this known at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the power plants are: Omotoso in Ondo State (450MW), Sapele in Delta (450MW), Geregu in Kogi (434MW), Olorunsogo in Ogun (750MW) and Ihovbor in Edo (450MW).
Others are Gbarain in Bayelsa (225MW), Alaoji in Abia (450MW), Calabar in Cross River (561MW), Egbema in Imo (338MW) and Omoku in Rivers (225MW).
Olotu explained that a road show to indicate the commencement of the exercise would start in Lagos from Tuesday, June 4 to June 5 with 40 investors.
He said that the road show would be extended to United Kingdom, United States and Hong Kong.
The NDPHC boss confirmed that six of the plants had been completed technically, while the remaining would be completed before 2014..
He explained that the Federal Government would divest 80 per cent of its shares in the power plants, while auctioning would involve the Ministry of Power and the Bureau of Public Enterprises.
Olotu, who did not disclose the expected revenue from the auction, said that proceeds realized would be used to build additional power plants and boost transmission lines in the country.
"With the planned privatization, there would be efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the power plants.
"Government can play its role where it has relative advantage. Government will invest little but more on transmission sector so as to build the country's power infrastructure," he said.
Olotu stated that the Board of Directors of the company which has Vice President Namadi Sambo as its Chairman, had got the approval of the Federal Government to privatize the plants.
He said the sale became imperative due to the fact that the company has achieved the mandate given to it in 2005.
"The mandate was to build 10 independent power plants across the country with capacity to generate 5000 MW by end of 2013 and divest it.
"We are confident to tell you that this year will be a year of harvest in the power sector. All the power generating plants will be completed this year.
"In fact, six plants are ready for commissioning while four others are about to be completed within the next few months.
"We are divesting 80 per cent stake in each power plant as valued by our financial advisers.
"We will retain 20 per cent in order to assure potential investors of our confidence in the plants we are selling," he stated.
Also speaking, Mr. Arif Mohiuddin, CPCS Transaction Adviser to the NDPHC, said submission of bid for the plants was scheduled for July 19 while August 8 was fixed for short-listing of bidders.
"There will be bidders' conference on Sept.18 and Sept.19. Bidders are expected to submit their proposals on Nov. 8 and evaluation of technical proposal would come up one month later," Mohiuddin said.
He said names of successful bidders would be announced, while the handing-over of the assets to the investors would come up before June 2014.
He gave the assurance that the plants would not be handed over until completion and commissioning. (NAN)
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Nigerian states are mostly PDP states. So when they say things like this, other parties should believe them. They are capable.