Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan, has said that the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, is a party Nigerians still believe in.
He said it is because of such belief in the party that many stakeholders
and even well-meaning non-party members phoned him to express their joys
over the Supreme Court’s judgement that brought to termination the
leadership crisis that has rocked the party for long.
Jonathan gave the statement at the expanded National Caucus of the party
held on Monday night at Wadata House, Abuja.
According to him, “Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when the
Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so surprised because some of the
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. “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.
In his remark, 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 belongs to people and giving to a few people.”
On his part, Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti
State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, 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.
Also speaking, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu,
said 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 rebuild the party,” Ekweremadu said.
The Board of Trustees Chairman, Alhaji Jubril Walid, said it was time for
the party to build a new Nigeria.
Those present at the caucus meeting include; 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.