We are building a New PDP that abhores indiscipline – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has said there is no place for indiscipline in the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) they are trying to build.
The President made this known when the factional Chairman of the Party in Rivers State, Felix Obuah, led a high powered delegation of PDP stalwarts from the state on a solidarity visit to him at the Presidential Villa Thursday.
He said a stable democracy depends on a strong political party, saying strong political parties all over the world build on different ideology.
The President said he has always had an amicable and reliable working relationship with the people of Rivers State, describing them as “very reliable people” who do not speak with both sides of their mouths.
Jonathan apparently referring to the embattled Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi said no political office holder should use his position to work against the party that backed him to get to that position.
He commended the caliber of people that turned up for the meeting, saying they were the who is who in Rivers State.
“I have listened to the introductions and being a Rivers person, I know key political actors in Rivers State, the who's who in Rivers State; and they are here. I want to thank you for building this political structure for the state, for the interest of Rivers State and to position Rivers State in the politics of the country.
“To me, I have been working with people of Rivers State for quite some time before I got here. I have had a robust relationship with my brothers and sisters in Rivers State. They are very reliable people who I believe will not speak with both sides of their mouths.
“Rivers State is a key state to South-Easterners. It is a key state that needs very strong leadership, focused leadership, committed leadership and maximum political unity and stability. Otherwise anything could happen and affect the whole country.
“For us to have a stable democracy we have to have a strong political party. And that is why we get worried when we notice some of the indiscipline in some of the political parties. And the new PDP that we are all working together for no longer tolerates this indiscipline.
“All over the world parties are supposed to build on ideological differences. May be close, if you look at the classical case of SDP and NRC that were created by the military, their ideology was a little to the right and little to the left.
“That is the essence of politics. But in a situation where somebody is in a particular political party but his faith is in another political party…for those who are not holding political offices, yes you can be excused…but if you are holding an elective office you won't be in that party and be working for another party. Otherwise, why are you there?”