No Party Can Beat PDP, President Jonathan Boasts

President Goodluck Jonathan boasted on Sunday night  that despite the factional crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party would remain intact to continue to run the affairs of the country.

The President who spoke at the convention dinner held at the State House Banquet Hall, said the factional crisis is a family matter, adding that the party has all it stakes to resolve it.

However, the dinner was boycotted by five governors and other aggrieved members of the party who had already formed a parallel PDP.

He said: 'In any human institutions there must be disagreements. What happened (the factional PDP) is a minor disagreement that can be solved. For those who have issues, we thank the elders and governors who have meeting and listening to them, we are committed to resolving our differences.

'Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the new PDP meaning they know without PDP they are nothing. PDP is intact, that we have some disagreements is normal.

'PDP is intact and will remain intact. We will make sure that the party remains one, those who left will rejoin us. It is only PDP that has not change name or form. We will do out best to keep PDP one, to keep Nigeria one,' he said.

In his remarks, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, said the PDP had always provided leadership for others to emulate.

While speaking at the dinner, Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the country would not break up under Jonathan's administration because it has faced major challenges in the past and survived it.

Said Akpabio: 'We want Nigerians to challenge us on performance not on the pages of newspapers. We want to assure you there is no faction in the PDP, what we are seeing today is just a storm in the tea cup.

'If you want to step out of the party you are free, this is the only party you can leave and return and become a national party chairman. The people are not with those who do not respect constituted authority.

'Those who do not respect authority will not get authority. Struggling your way through with might and propaganda will not give you the presidency', said Akpabio in apparent reference to the aggrieved factional leaders.

In his presentation, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said the Senate is united and would continue to protect the interest of Nigerians and support the present administration.

Also, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, said the  PDP members in National Assembly would continue to support the party through legislative means.

Speaking at the dinner, chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, said this is the first time the party was discussing about its future, and appealed to  members of the party to appreciate that the task ahead was enormous.

He urged Jonathan to declare his intentions to run for the presidential election in 2015 by the end of September, stressing that  it is no longer right to say the time is not right.

On his part, National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, emphasised the importance of party loyalty and discipline.

'We must learn to accept change in order to build on democratic principles.  Our party cannot be relevant to the people only once in four years, when votes are needed, but at every time in order to improve their lot. Dialogue and reconciliation should be encouraged but our politics should be based on issues rather than personalities,' he said.

On his part, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, assured President Jonathan that majority of Nigerians were happy with his leadership, stressing that those who were absent at the event were towing the wrong path.

Also, the chairmen of the party in the 36 states of the federation declared their loyalty for the president now and beyond 2015, and also assured the national chairman of the party and the governors of their support.

Speaking on behalf of former governors elected on the platform of the PDP, former Governor of Adamawa state, Mr. Boni Haruna, reaffirmed their support for the president and the national leadership of the party.

Those who attended the dinner were governors of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue (Deputy Governor)  Cross River, Delta, Gombe, Katsina, Taraba (Acting Governor), Kebbi,  Plateau and Kogi states as well as former national party chairmen, former members of the National Assembly and former governors.