Jonathan: security challenges less in PDP states
President Goodluck Jonathan has called the bluff of the five governors and other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The exit, he said, was not being felt by the party.
Besides, he said “security challenges are less in PDP states because of the commitment of the governors”.
The governors that defected to the APC are Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
Other notable chieftains of the PDP that left for the APC include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former PDP Acting National Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, former PDP Deputy National Chairman Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, among others.
Also, no fewer than 37 members of the House of Representatives and 11 senators defected from the ruling party.
Speaking yesterday at the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the President said: “There was a time, especially when some of our governors for one reason or the other, moved and some members of the National Assembly also moved and people were saying that these people will overrun PDP
“From the privileged position that I am, I see wider. When I looked across, I did not really see that threat. Psychologically, we must let everybody know that PDP is still the dominant party.
“Even though some people left us but we are not noticing their absence because of the leadership and commitment shown by Governor Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor Jonah Jang (Plateau), the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and other members of the Governors Forum from the PDP.
“Because of their total commitment, it is like a football team. We (Nigeria) have won a team (match) with 10 players before because when they removed one and they removed the second one, the rest people started playing as if they were 13. So, we didn’t even notice that we have lost two. That is what the PDP governors are doing.
“We have to encourage them, we have to commend them. They are working and defending the party as if we have 36 governors and we believe they will carry on with that spirit especially in this injury time”.
“I told the national chairman that let us have zonal unity rallies; let us demonstrate our strength so that they will know that one or two persons that left was inconsequential.
“I am not sure they can win their wards in an election because some of those states are totally PDP states. When you think that you are this and you are that and you probably think you will leave with the whole state, by the time we arrive, you get to know that others are behind to continue with PDP.
“All what I am saying is that PDP is still solid, PDP is still the dominant party, our rallies show very clearly and surely that this party will win our elections free and fair”.
The President said the government was tackling the prevailing insurgency, adding that the necessary equipment and military hardware required to fight the insurgents were being put in place.
“Obviously, everybody knows the security challenges we have. I don’t want to be moaning or complaining but all I can assure our great party is that we are taking on the challenges.
“God willing, these challenges of Boko Haram or other criminal elements will soon come to be history in this country. While contending with security challenges, we are still totally committed to our developmental programmes based on our party’s manifesto”, he said.
National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, said the leadership had been able to halt the spate of defections from the ruling party.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, PDP said: “NEC also debated the proposal to hold the PDP National Convention according to the provisions of the constitution of the PDP and resolved to hold same after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“NEC unanimously passed an overwhelming vote of confidence on President Goodluck Jonathan and particularly praised the decisive steps so far taken to contain insurgency in the country”.
Also at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Board of Trustees (BoT) chair Tony Anenih, ten PDP governors, past national chairmen, Senate President and members of the House of Representatives.
House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was absent.
