The Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, South-South league, has said former President Goodluck Jonathan would not
contest the 2019 presidential election.
The group said this while
dismissing claims that Jonathan wanted to hijack the party structure in Bayelsa
state for his presidential ambition in 2019.
In a statement by its Chairman,
Barr. Ariolu Tebidapa (Delta State) and the Secretary, Akpan Ibibio (Akwa-Ibom
state), the body claimed that those against the interest of the party were
behind the allegation.
Noting that the PDP had zoned its
presidency to the North, the body warned against any attempt to ridicule the
image of the immediate past president.
The body maintained that if
Jonathan was interested in anything, it was how to reposition PDP at the
national level to “push forward his vision for Nigeria.”
The statement reads, “It is
obvious, that since after the supreme court judgement that laid to rest the
leadership crisis that rocked the PDP, some persons within the party in the
region, are still not settled due to the role they played, in spite of the fact
that the party has granted amnesty to all those who worked against the interest
of the party.
“These persons see the former
President, Goodluck Jonathan as a threat, hence their reactions in trying to
attack his personality.
“We have read in the dailies about
some persons insinuating that the former President, intends hijacking the party
structure in Bayelsa State, in order to actualize his presidential ambition.
“This however, sounds laughable;
we see it as an attempt to ridicule the former President.
“His Excellency, former President
Goodluck Jonathan is not contesting for the office of the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, even though he is well qualified constitutionally
and by pedigree, because he is still widely loved and accepted by Nigerians.
“However, the PDP has zoned it’s
presidency to the Northern part of Nigeria. So, we wonder what these fifth
columnists really want to achieve by selling falsehood.
“It is also not true that the
former President is attempting to hijack the party structure in Bayelsa State.
We consider this story as an imagination from those who are being chased by
their shadow. As the leader of the party, how can he (Jonathan) be interested
in only one state, when the party is preparing for elective congresses and National
convention?
“If at all former President
Goodluck Jonathan is interested in anything, it should rather be who leads the
party at the National level to push forward his vision for Nigeria.
“Consequently, we consider all
these as attempts to distract the attention of the former President, at a time
when he is busy working with other party leaders and focusing his attention on
how to reposition our great party and Nigeria for the challenges ahead.
“Former President Goodluck
Jonathan has made the South-South region proud during his service as President,
with his achievements of international reckoning and sacrifice to keep Nigeria
United. We think he deserves every respect and regard.
“There is no amount of blackmail
or insult by these detractors, no matter how hard they try, that can erase the
achievements of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Apc from the north, pdp north also. Una no serious at all
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