President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday
appealed to all Peoples Democratic Party
aspirants who are aggrieved as a result of
the outcome of its primary elections across
the country not to ditch the party.
He said the party leadership was working
hard to resolve the conflicts thrown up by the
primaries in many states.
Jonathan spoke at the PDP Fund Raising
Dinner held at the old Banquet Hall of the
Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Many state chapters of the party are currently
enmeshed in controversy over alleged cases
of imposition of candidates either by state
governors or the national headquarters.
The situation had led to many party stalwarts
leaving the party or threatening to leave.
Among those who have left to join opposition
All Progressives Congress were Jonathan’s
former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and
Investment, Samuel Ortom, after he failed to
clinch the party’s governorship ticket in
Benue State.
Jonathan however said it was better for
aggrieved party members to remain in the
system to correct whatever they felt is wrong
in the party than jumping ship.
Although he said conscious efforts are being
made to resolve the post-primaries crisis in
some states, the President admitted that all
the cases might not be resolved to the
satisfaction of all the parties concerned.
He however said the party would be guided
by the issues raised when preparing for the
primaries of the 2019 elections.
He said, “We all appreciate that throughout
the congresses where primary elections were
conducted, there have been some outstanding
issues.
“The party is working to resolve these issues.
Definitely, in such situation, all may not be
resolved to the satisfaction of everybody.
“But my plea to party members is to remain
committed to the party; stay with the party.
“I know other parties are wooing some of you
to contest elections on their platforms, but if
you believe in democracy then you will
contribute to strengthening it.
“The only way you can strengthen democracy
is for you to stay in your party.
“If there are some issues you feel are not too
correct, it behoves on us to stay together and
correct them. That is the only way we can
grow democracy.
“If out of anger or frustration, you leave the
party because you didn’t get what you
wanted, then you are not contributing to the
growth of democracy.”
The President said the major task before the
ruling party was to ensure that the country
remain united.
While thanking those who donated the over
N21billion realised at the dinner, he said the
money was needed to build a formidable
party.
He observed that if parties were tied around
individuals, there would be dictatorial
tendencies in such parties.
Jonathan said the PDP must complete work
on its new national headquarters next year
because the project had dragged for too
long.
He promised that the money realised would
be judiciously utilised like his administration
had done with the different funds raised
earlier.
Describing his administration as business-
friendly, he promised donors of more policies
that would promote enterprise and industry.
The Punch
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