Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, says Nigerians still believed in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP even as he pointed out that such belief cut across political party lines and among non-politicians.
Jonathan who was speaking at the expanded National Caucus of the party held on Monday night at Wadata House, Abuja disclosed that many stakeholders and even well-meaning non-party members phoned him to express their joys over the Supreme Court’s judgment that brought to an end, the leadership crisis that has rocked the party for long.
His words, “Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when the Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so surprised by some of the people that 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,”
Continuing he 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”.
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On his part, Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi said only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining power in 2019.
Noting that the meeting was convened to chart the way forward for the party, Makarfi said, “We called 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”.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, called on party members and leaders to return “home” and mobilize Nigerians at the grassroots.
He said, “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”.
Deputy Senate President, 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,” BOT Chairman, Alhaji Jubril Walid, said it was time for the party to build a new Nigeria.
Among stakeholders at the caucus meeting were former senate President, David Mark, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Stella Omu, Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd), Uche Secondus, Jerry Gana, Olisa Metu, Jonah Jang, Gabriel Suswan, Grace Bent, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Darius Ishyaku of Taraba state.
Others include Chief Tom Ikimi, Vincent Ogbulafor, Senator Jonah Jang, Jimi Agbaje, Dimeji Bankole, Emeka Ihedioha, Solomon Ewuga, Liyel Imoke, and Ibrahim Mantu.
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