By Chibuzo Ukaibe.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday broke his silence on the internal crisis rocking his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that despite the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election, the opposition party remains the biggest and strongest party in Nigeria.
He further declared the party will bounce back in 2019, stressing that the outcome of the last general election was a minor setback which didn’t diminish the party.
The former president, however, advocated the strengthening of institutions in the country, while responding to a complaint over the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under this administration.
He maintained that no country can grow and develop without strong institutions.
Jonathan made these remarks while receiving a delegation of the PDP strategy review and Inter party committee who visited him at his private residence in Abuja to present a copy of their report to him.
Besides Jonathan, the strategy committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana, also presented their report to two former founding members of the party, namely former chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Chief Tony Anenih, despite their resignation from partisan politics.
Tukur, also noted that PDP remains the largest party far beyond the shores of Nigeria. He lambasted those defecting to other political parties on a perceived promise of better future, likening them to those running to Europe for a better future that is not true.
Anenih, on his part, blamed selfishness among some party leaders for the state of the party today. He said the party could have gone beyond its present status but for the selfishness among some party leaders.
He, however, charged the party leadership to engage in constructive criticism.
But Jonathan, while commending the party’s leadership and committee on the outcome of the work, said: “I am among the persons who believe that for a nation to grow, the institutions must be very strong, just like you mentioned about INEC.
“There is no way a nation will grow with weak institutions because everything about politics is about the people, not about the individual.
“And as long you are interested in the people, you are interested in growth of the society, the development of the nation. The only thing that will make impossible is that the institutions must be strong.”
Continuing, the former president noted that: “You see as powerful as America (is), look at President Donald Trump’s decision and the court said ‘no you can do this’ and of course they have to shoot down that one to move further. That is the strength of an institution. That is the only way individuals could be regulated so that you can grow.”
Speaking about the fate of his party ahead of 2019, he said: “PDP is still the biggest and the strongest party. Irrespective of what happened in the 2015 general elections… yes we lost the presidential election but that didn’t diminish us. Every other party still knows that PDP is a leading party.
“Losing the presidency is something temporary. We should be able to get that position back as long as we are able to get our act together. I am happy that you people are working towards that.”
Jonathan advocated the use of more statutory delegates for the party’s primaries to check imposition of candidates, saying: “Direct primaries is the ultimate, it is the best way of selecting candidates but the greatest problem society has is how to manage direct primaries.
“It means if you want to elect president or governor, you cannot bring everybody to one place. It means that voting will take place from ward level or local government level and whatever and a party like PDP where there is no polling units where we don’t have a true members.
“The best way to stop imposition is to make sure that people don’t control the delegates. If we go by delegate election, it will be easiest to manage. How to select delegate is that at least 70 per cent of the delegates should not be under the control of anybody.
“I will say that if you cannot do direct primaries, let us make sure that we increase the number of statutory delegates, people who have held offices in the party at different levels, even if it is the level of councilors.”
The former president also endorsed the alliance-talks between PDP and other political parties.
While addressing the committee at his residence, Tukur expressed happiness that the PDP is now rebranding and trying to return power genuinely to the people, adding that there is no place in the country where you do not find a member of the party.
He urged the Jerry Gana committee not to relent or be deterred in its efforts to restore the glory of the party, pointing out that the party is not owned by any individual but the generality of Nigerians.
“To me, this is a very interesting day to see that you are now keeping faith with democracy because PDP as a party is involved in rebranding to give back the party to the people just like its slogan says Power to the People.
“PDP is not owned by any individual. Every home, village, local government, state and centre, there is no way you will not find a member of PDP. It was accepted.
“Don’t relent. PDP is the party to keep faith in democracy and with Nigerians because the constitution recognises this when it said ‘we the people’ and the PDP has that belief.
“It is very encouraging that in spite of all the difficulties you are still keeping faith. Some people are jumping the boat. It is just like those who want to go to Libya and to Europe and they take the barges because they have a promise of better future. It is not true. PDP is the party not just for the zone but it is global. I thank you most sincerely for keeping faith with what we all believe in – democracy.
“PDP is not just a Nigerian party, it is a global entity. We will make sure that our party right from the homes inculcate in our members the responsibility the virtue of nation-building,” Tukur stated.
The former party chairman maintained that PDP will bounce back and eventually become a party that will make not only Nigerians but the black race proud.
Anenih on his part, admonished the party leadership to get its house in order before hurriedly seeking elective positions.
He said: “As of today we have two parties, PDP and APC. I just want to advise. We have missed many opportunities right from 2014 to reorganise the party. Because of selfish interests of some party leaders, PDP is where it is today. PDP could have been up there. Everybody wants to be presidential candidate.
“Everybody wants to be national chairman. It is never done. Today PDP is a sad situation. It is a different ball game now because of selfish interests. Everybody that talks to me says we are waiting for Appeal Court judgment. Why must PDP wait for Appeal Court judgement to reorganise itself?
“I noticed that those who benefitted from PDP have gone to APC. It is very shameful. I joined politics in 1977. I have never left my party for another party. When it is more there they run there. When it is more here they come back. APC is on the pages of newspapers. Buhari should come back to move Nigeria out of the woods. Because we have a chance of leading Africa; leading the world. But we can only do that when we are not playing politics of selfishness.
“Why should a leader of PDP be saying ‘I want to be president’ when the home has not been put in order? It is very shameful. I don’t want to mention names. I will like to be president if… What is if? We should put the party in good stead. It is when we have a good party that you can be talking of what to become thereafter. That is my special advice.”
Gana, while addressing the three elder statesmen, at the separate visits, lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has become a tool at the hands of the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC).
He added that the incumbent administration has been associated with oppressive tendencies which has led to political prisoners which never reared its ugly head during the entire 16 years of PDP administration.
Gana, who disclosed that the PDP is set to organise an international summit on the defense of human right, decried the “threat to democracy to the extent that basic human rights that we took for granted.”
He continued “Under your watch, we can say that no one was imprisoned because of ideas. You leaders were abused every day and no one was incarcerated. No one was abused. Basic human rights are being eroded. The best form of government is democracy. We must retain it in Nigeria.”
Among those that accompanied Prof. Jerry Gana to the consultative visits, were two former governors, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Achike Undenwa (Imo), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Chief Roymond Dokpesi, Hon. Shehu Garbam and Senator Stella Omu.
By Chibuzo Ukaibe.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday broke his silence on the internal crisis rocking his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that despite the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election, the opposition party remains the biggest and strongest party in Nigeria.
He further declared the party will bounce back in 2019, stressing that the outcome of the last general election was a minor setback which didn’t diminish the party.
The former president, however, advocated the strengthening of institutions in the country, while responding to a complaint over the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under this administration.
He maintained that no country can grow and develop without strong institutions.
Jonathan made these remarks while receiving a delegation of the PDP strategy review and Inter party committee who visited him at his private residence in Abuja to present a copy of their report to him.
Besides Jonathan, the strategy committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana, also presented their report to two former founding members of the party, namely former chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Chief Tony Anenih, despite their resignation from partisan politics.
Tukur, also noted that PDP remains the largest party far beyond the shores of Nigeria. He lambasted those defecting to other political parties on a perceived promise of better future, likening them to those running to Europe for a better future that is not true.
Anenih, on his part, blamed selfishness among some party leaders for the state of the party today. He said the party could have gone beyond its present status but for the selfishness among some party leaders.
He, however, charged the party leadership to engage in constructive criticism.
But Jonathan, while commending the party’s leadership and committee on the outcome of the work, said: “I am among the persons who believe that for a nation to grow, the institutions must be very strong, just like you mentioned about INEC.
“There is no way a nation will grow with weak institutions because everything about politics is about the people, not about the individual.
“And as long you are interested in the people, you are interested in growth of the society, the development of the nation. The only thing that will make impossible is that the institutions must be strong.”
Continuing, the former president noted that: “You see as powerful as America (is), look at President Donald Trump’s decision and the court said ‘no you can do this’ and of course they have to shoot down that one to move further. That is the strength of an institution. That is the only way individuals could be regulated so that you can grow.”
Speaking about the fate of his party ahead of 2019, he said: “PDP is still the biggest and the strongest party. Irrespective of what happened in the 2015 general elections… yes we lost the presidential election but that didn’t diminish us. Every other party still knows that PDP is a leading party.
“Losing the presidency is something temporary. We should be able to get that position back as long as we are able to get our act together. I am happy that you people are working towards that.”
Jonathan advocated the use of more statutory delegates for the party’s primaries to check imposition of candidates, saying: “Direct primaries is the ultimate, it is the best way of selecting candidates but the greatest problem society has is how to manage direct primaries.
“It means if you want to elect president or governor, you cannot bring everybody to one place. It means that voting will take place from ward level or local government level and whatever and a party like PDP where there is no polling units where we don’t have a true members.
“The best way to stop imposition is to make sure that people don’t control the delegates. If we go by delegate election, it will be easiest to manage. How to select delegate is that at least 70 per cent of the delegates should not be under the control of anybody.
“I will say that if you cannot do direct primaries, let us make sure that we increase the number of statutory delegates, people who have held offices in the party at different levels, even if it is the level of councilors.”
The former president also endorsed the alliance-talks between PDP and other political parties.
While addressing the committee at his residence, Tukur expressed happiness that the PDP is now rebranding and trying to return power genuinely to the people, adding that there is no place in the country where you do not find a member of the party.
He urged the Jerry Gana committee not to relent or be deterred in its efforts to restore the glory of the party, pointing out that the party is not owned by any individual but the generality of Nigerians.
“To me, this is a very interesting day to see that you are now keeping faith with democracy because PDP as a party is involved in rebranding to give back the party to the people just like its slogan says Power to the People.
“PDP is not owned by any individual. Every home, village, local government, state and centre, there is no way you will not find a member of PDP. It was accepted.
“Don’t relent. PDP is the party to keep faith in democracy and with Nigerians because the constitution recognises this when it said ‘we the people’ and the PDP has that belief.
“It is very encouraging that in spite of all the difficulties you are still keeping faith. Some people are jumping the boat. It is just like those who want to go to Libya and to Europe and they take the barges because they have a promise of better future. It is not true. PDP is the party not just for the zone but it is global. I thank you most sincerely for keeping faith with what we all believe in – democracy.
“PDP is not just a Nigerian party, it is a global entity. We will make sure that our party right from the homes inculcate in our members the responsibility the virtue of nation-building,” Tukur stated.
The former party chairman maintained that PDP will bounce back and eventually become a party that will make not only Nigerians but the black race proud.
Anenih on his part, admonished the party leadership to get its house in order before hurriedly seeking elective positions.
He said: “As of today we have two parties, PDP and APC. I just want to advise. We have missed many opportunities right from 2014 to reorganise the party. Because of selfish interests of some party leaders, PDP is where it is today. PDP could have been up there. Everybody wants to be presidential candidate.
“Everybody wants to be national chairman. It is never done. Today PDP is a sad situation. It is a different ball game now because of selfish interests. Everybody that talks to me says we are waiting for Appeal Court judgment. Why must PDP wait for Appeal Court judgement to reorganise itself?
“I noticed that those who benefitted from PDP have gone to APC. It is very shameful. I joined politics in 1977. I have never left my party for another party. When it is more there they run there. When it is more here they come back. APC is on the pages of newspapers. Buhari should come back to move Nigeria out of the woods. Because we have a chance of leading Africa; leading the world. But we can only do that when we are not playing politics of selfishness.
“Why should a leader of PDP be saying ‘I want to be president’ when the home has not been put in order? It is very shameful. I don’t want to mention names. I will like to be president if… What is if? We should put the party in good stead. It is when we have a good party that you can be talking of what to become thereafter. That is my special advice.”
Gana, while addressing the three elder statesmen, at the separate visits, lamented that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has become a tool at the hands of the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC).
He added that the incumbent administration has been associated with oppressive tendencies which has led to political prisoners which never reared its ugly head during the entire 16 years of PDP administration.
Gana, who disclosed that the PDP is set to organise an international summit on the defense of human right, decried the “threat to democracy to the extent that basic human rights that we took for granted.”
He continued “Under your watch, we can say that no one was imprisoned because of ideas. You leaders were abused every day and no one was incarcerated. No one was abused. Basic human rights are being eroded. The best form of government is democracy. We must retain it in Nigeria.”
Among those that accompanied Prof. Jerry Gana to the consultative visits, were two former governors, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Achike Undenwa (Imo), Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Chief Roymond Dokpesi, Hon. Shehu Garbam and Senator Stella Omu.
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