The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has declared that President Goodluck Jonathan is the party’s presidential candidate in 2015 general elections. Bamanga Tukur disclosed this during the inauguration of National PDP Councillors’ Forum in Abuja. He further told the party faithful not to be deterred by people leaving for other parties saying that even if they leave the PDP the party remains. He further maintained that PDP remains the strongest and biggest party in Nigeria and Africa insisting that the party is insurmountable.
He said, “Don’t be deterred by some people saying they are leaving the party. People leaving the party are individuals not the party. It doesn’t mean if they leave the party the party leaves. No, the party remains. PDP is the only party in Nigeria that fields a candidate in every election that is held. Don’t be deterred; don’t be afraid, you are part of the ruling party.”
He further tasked the councillors on the role they have to play in making sure that Jonathan wins the 2015 election.
In his remarks the former governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo State Major General Charles Arhiavbere(rtd) said the inauguration showed that the members of PDP are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan even as he advised the executives to reach out to the 13 states including Edo State that is not under PDP and bring them under the umbrella of the party.
Speaking on the letter written to President Jonathan by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha said that Obasanjo should play a fatherly role and stop acting the way he was doing. He maintained that Obasanjo’s present style was what made the former head of state late General Sani Abacha to put him in prison.
He said, “That was exactly what he was doing till Abacha put him in prison, the same style, he has started again. Anyway I don’t think he has advisers. If he has advisers they will call him to order . He is not the only statesman we have in this country. Yes, I respect him as former president. He has contributed also to the sustenance of democracy even in the military, he played a significant role. We acknowledge all that but power is transit. When you finish your tenure you hand over the baton to others and support the person in power and not to pull him down,” he added.
