Jonathan Woos Aggrieved Members, Says PDP Not Party Of “Hooligans”

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Nigeria 2015 Election Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

From Ayo Balogun, Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan has again reassured Nigerians and the international community that the Nigerian ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parade members capable of delivering free, fair and credible and violence – free elections as well as sent pleas to the aggrieved members, asking them not to dump the party.

The Nigerian leader renewed the assurance Tuesday at the formal inauguration of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization.

Jonathan held that the ruling party is, “not a party of hooligans,” adding “We are a party of patriots, not a party of renegades. We are a party of statesmen and women. We are a party of builders, not destroyers. We are a party of committed servants of the people therefore members of the campaign organization must let the people see once again, that the organization was to serve and to move Nigeria forward, not Nigeria backwards.”

In the light of this, the President stressed that members of the campaign organization must in the coming electioneering campaigns ensure that Nigeria triumphs and democracy wins, noting that no other cause could be greater than the Nigerian cause. Without Nigeria, there will be no President, he reasoned.

“We have an obligation to consolidate our democracy, strengthen our institutions and project Nigeria positively by running a disciplined, issues-based and civilized campaign. That is my charge to you all.

“I’m especially inspired by the positive energy, the optimism, and the enthusiasm among our party leaders and members. There may be issues arising from the party primaries, which have led to some of our members expressing grievances. But this is the time for all of us to come together and work as one family. At the end of the day every one of us will be useful in one way or the other,” the president stressed.

Speaking further on the aggrieved members, President Jonathan called on them to stand as one in the face of the assignment ahead of the party, cautioning that losing a party primary should not result in a loss of faith in it, as he stressed no election should be a do or die contest.

“Whatever grievances we have can be resolved within the family. There is a job to be done, and all loyal members of our great party must play their expected roles” the president stated.

He urged members of the Presidential Campaign Organization to go round the country, propagate the ruling party’s message of transformation, which it required for victory and for the benefit of present and future generations of Nigerians.

“We have everything that it takes to run an excellent and victorious campaign. Our great party has demonstrated to Nigerians that it is the party with the broadest appeal. We are the strongest and the biggest. We have engaged the people of Nigeria positively with people-friendly policies, which have moved Nigeria forward.

“We have sustained the democratic tradition. We have strengthened democratic institutions. We inherited a rather complex security challenge but we are waging a determined war against it. We are succeeding in preventing terrorists and insurgents from turning more of our communities into enclaves for their dastardly activities” claimed President Jonathan.

He urged the campaign team to flaunt the party’s achievements in all parts of the country; tell the story of what it had achieved and announced the facts and the figures in every nook and cranny of the country.

This, the President advised could be achieved by the campaign team, by being civil, decorous and law-abiding.

“As agents of the ruling party, all eyes will be on you during the campaign and elections. I therefore expect nothing but the highest standards of exemplary conduct from you as your worthy contribution to the fulfillment of our pledge of peaceful and successful elections.

“Some other politicians and campaigners are threatening fire and brimstone. Do not join them. Some other parties are pulling down other people’s posters. That is primitive. Please, do not join them. Every Nigerian must be free to campaign anywhere.

“Thugs, violence and malpractice or rigging must have no place in our campaign and electoral activities. Do not join those who threaten to start fires and turn them into infernos in our country” the President said.

On economy, Jonathan indicated in the last four years and despite the raging security challenges, his administration prides itself over the “largest and the strongest in the African continent, which he added was a preferred destination for foreign direct investment”, specifying the Nigerian youths have been empowered through promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Former PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali and Chief Tony Anenih have been named the Director General and National Campaign Adviser respectively of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organization.

Meanwhile, the party will formally kick start its Presidential campaign Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

 

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