Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former president
Former President Goodluck Jonathan said
Nigerians still believed in the capacity of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the
country.
Jonathan stated this at the expanded National
Caucus of the party held on Monday night at
Wadata House, Abuja.
He said that this was demonstrated with reactions
by Nigerians to the Supreme Court judgment on
the party’s leadership crisis on Wednesday.
He urged that all our efforts by PDP members and
supporters within this period should be channeled
towards building the party.
“Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when
the Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so
surprised because some of people called and sent
text messages to me.
“They are not even politicians but they are so
happy that PDP has come on stream because
they were worried that PDP will go down.
“So, if people who are not even members of PDP
are so happy that PDP has now gotten a platform
to operate in spite of the negative propaganda
against us, it means people still believe in PDP.
“PDP is a party that Nigerians still believe in,”
Jonathan said.
He appealed to party members to rebuild it,
assuring that many people who stepped aside
from the party as a result of its leadership crisis
would return.
“The first thing we need to do is to rebuild the
party because when the party is strong, everything
will be added to that.
“Whether you have individual or group interest, as
a politician, you must serve. These are very basic
things, but first and foremost, we must strengthen
the party.
“Let us cooperate with the Caretaker Committee
and make sure that PDP is very cohesive. And
when that happens, people who stepped aside
may step back.
“We may not even need to go on a voyage of
discovery to discover people. But they,
themselves will come back because a strong party
acts like a magnet.
“It will attract all the people that are interested,”
he said.
On his part, Chairman of the PDP National
Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said
only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining
power in 2019.
Makarfi said the meeting was convened to chart
the way forward for the party.
“We call this caucus before the meeting of other
organs. You are our party leaders.
“Immediately judgment was delivered, I said no
victor nor vanquished, and we mean it.
“It does not mean taking what belong to people
and giving to a few people.”
On his part, Mr Ayodele Fayose, Chairman of the
PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti
State, urged party members and leaders to return
to the “home” and mobilise Nigerians at the
grassroots.
“If this party must win, if PDP must get the
confidence of Nigerians, if this party must be
restored, our leaders must go back home and
work,” Fayose said.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike
Ekweremadu, said that the Lord gave PDP the
victory because He loved Nigerian.
He said that the time had come for the party to
work together and deliver good governance to the
country.
“Time to work is now; we must go back to the
drawing board. We must not disappoint Nigerians.
It is time for fence-mending and reconstructing
Nigeria for real change.
“We all believe in the party that was why we
stayed. We need everybody in this party to re-
build the party,” Ekweremadu said.
The Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Jubril
Walid, said it was time for the party to build a new
Nigeria.
Walid, who was represented by Mr Aminu Wali,
said “this is a new PDP. It is going to have a new
beginning, a new start, by the grace of God.”
Present at the meeting were David Mark, Remi
Bakare, Stella Omu, Godswill Akpabio, Nyesom
Wike, Sule Lamido, Ahmadu Ali and also Uche
Secondus.
Others were Olisa Metu, Jonah Jang, Jerry Gana,
Grace Bent, Gabriel Suswam, Emmanuel Udom,
Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and
Darius Ishyaku
The other persons were Jonah Jang, Tom Ikimi,
Vincent Ogbulafor, Ahmadu Ali, Jim Agbaje,
Solomon Ewuga, Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Mantu,
Emeka Ihedioha, Dimeji Bankole.
Meanwhile, the former Chairman of the Party, Sen.
Ali Modu Sheriff was absent.
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