2015: PDP Will Remain Ruling Party- Jonathan
…Says Some PDP Defectors will Return, Tukur's Successor Emerges Monday.
President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday declared that the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to be the ruling party after 2015 adding that some
governors and members of PDP that defected to the All Progressive Congress
(APC) will return soon.
Jonathan stated this while speaking at the 63rd National Executive Committee (NEC)f the PDP.
This comes as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as chairman of the
party. Jonathan had presented the resignation letter of Tukur to the NEC members.
Presiding over formal ratification of Tukur's resignation, Jonathan
further declared that Tukur's replacement from the North East would emerge next Monday at a
NECmeeting of the party.
In a show of gratitude to sacked national chairman for his loyalty to the
party, the
president left with Tukur to the villa before the end of the NEC meeting
after he
had promised to give him a tougher job in appreciation of Tukur's service
to the
party.
Jonathan while declaring the resignation of Tukur said “we have had some
internal
problems that had been agitating the minds of our people. And let us
really commend
the NWC of the party led by Bamanga Tukur.
“The chairman of our party you have all known did not just wake up to be
chairman of
the party. He is one of the founding fathers of our party, has held
several offices
and has done very well. And for us to make sure that we rest this issue,
the party
chairman has agreed to step aside. (Greeted with applause and standing
ovation).
“He is not guilty in anyway. In fact I have to give him an assignment that is
tougher than PDP. Because we need people like Bamanga Tukur to market this
country
and PDP, he has been doping that at the platform of African Roundtable but
he will
get a tougher job than African Round Table.
“So this is the letter from him announcing his stepping aside from office.
We did
not read it to the media, it is from the party chairman to the secretary
of the
party.
“Let us meet on monday so that we will formally inaugurate a new chairman,
according
to our constitution. So between now and Monday, we will look at our party
leaders
from the North-East.”
On the return of some of the governors and members of the PDP who left to
APC the
president said “I also use this opportunity to plead with our party
members to be
steadfast and committed to party activities. Even some of those people who
appeared
to want to leave us and have left, from all indications and discussions
some of them
will come back to the party. All that we need to do is ensure that the
party is
united.”
He said the party will henceforth hold more meetings. He highlighted that
he has
agreed with the governors of the party meet every month in the interest of
the party
and to fashion out ways to assist party members from state that are not
controlled
by PDP.
He noted “We want our National Working Committee members to ensure more
caucus
meetings are held every quarter. We don't want to miss any one. And for
the NEC
meeting we believe it should be held more regularly because this is an
election
year, I have no alternative than to call NEC meeting so we have to liase
with the
NWC to if possible hold the meeting every other month.”
He charged party members to be steadfast to party activities, stressing
that as
long as party remains united, PDP will continue to be the ruling party.
While he added that PDP has created jobs through Agricultural sector, he
said by
next Monday a dry season farming programme will be launched, adding that
N14bn would
be made available for the project which targets 10 states from the North.
Jonathan who said the party has continued to bring development initiatives
over the
years said his administration will continue to deliver dividends of
democracy to the
people.
Speaking earlier, Tukur, who presided over the meeting, in his opening and
final
speech as chairman of the party, warned the PDP not to take its status as
ruling
party for granted adding that gloating over being in power and remaining
in power no
matter what, is dangerous, destructive and anti-democratic.
He said “We, as a ruling Party must therefore take our leading position
seriously
and consistently pursue the enhancement of the good of the peoples of
Nigeria and
also the grassroot appeal of our Party.
“We can do this by upholding internal democracy, transparency, fairness
and probity
in all our processes, as well as delivering through our governments, good
governance
and services which impact positively on the lives of the hoi polloi.
“It follows that gloating over being in power and remaining in power no
matter what,
is dangerous, destructive and anti-democratic. Preoccupation with power
tussles and
undue confrontation have strangulating effect on any political platform.
And ours cannot be different.
“We must remind ourselves that politics is the only sensible peaceful
means mankind
has devised to discipline and manage diverse, competing interests in
society; whileremaining focused on the improvement and transformation of their existential
possibilities. A conscious effort therefore, must be made to avoid
self-inflicted
difficulties even as we remain focused on the promotion of cooperation,
cohesion and
inclusivity among social forces and group interests in our Party and
society.”
However some of the contenders for Tukur's replacement are minister of
transport,
Idris Umar from Borno State, former Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Babayo
Shehu and
former Bauchi state governor, Alhaji Adamu Muazu,
pioneer National Treasurer of PDP, Shettima Mustafa;
Other are former national Chairman of Grassroots Development Movement
(GDM), Alhaji
Gambo Lawan,
Chairman of Federal Government Contract Verification Committee, Alhaji
Sherif Bunu
and former FCT Minister, Alhaji Abba Gana.