Obasanjo, Mark, Tambuwal absent at post-convention dinner President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday night said members of the Peoples Democratic Party who formed the New PDP are nothing without the party.
Jonathan, who spoke at a post-National Special Convention of the PDP in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was glaring to those who broke away from the PDP that they could not survive without the party, hence their decision to call themselves the New PDP.
He said: “Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the New PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.”
Among those who broke away from the PDP to form a parallel National Executive Council are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; and seven governors elected on the platform of the party.
The dinner was well attended by party members and elders, including Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; and four former National Chairmen – Senator Banabas Gemade, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and Chief Ezekwesili Nwodo.
However, three key figures of the ruling party were conspicuously absent.
Those absent included former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the President of the Senate, David Mark; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
Jonathan, in his brief remarks, said his government would do everything possible to keep the PDP together.
On the crisis rocking the party, he expressed optimism that the ongoing reconciliatory effort by party elders and governors would resolve the crisis.
The President said: “Without PDP, it is like saying Nigeria has not started because PDP is the only party that has come to give that political leadership in this country.
“Even the opposition, whenever we are having convention, they don’t sleep because they know that without PDP there will be no democracy in Nigeria.
“PDP has been able to show that stability.
“We will do our best as the leaders of the party now, by your grace, to keep PDP one and to keep Nigeria one.
“That some of us have grievances is normal and has been happening.
“We will do everything possible to make sure that the party grows stronger.
“In any human institution, there must be disagreements.
“What happened (the factionalisation of PDP) is a minor disagreement that can be solved.
“For those who have issues, we thank the elders and governors who have meeting and listening to them.
“We are committed to resolving our differences.
“Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the new PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.
“PDP is intact.
“That we have some disagreements is normal.
“PDP is intact and will remain intact.
“We will make sure that the party remains one.
“Those who left will rejoin us.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, had told the President: “The House is full.
“It is a family dinner.
“The biggest family dinner.
“All your former chairmen are here.
“They stand by you come rain, come shine.
“This is your party.
“There is only one PDP and 90 per cent of Nigerians are with you.
“Majority of Nigerians are happy with your leadership.
“They like you and they love you.
“Those that are not here are those on the wrong path.”
Also speaking on behalf of the governors, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said the country would not break up under Jonathan’s administration, noting that he has survived major challenges in the recent past.
Akpabio said: “We want Nigerians to challenge us on performance not on the pages of newspapers.
“We want to assure you there is no faction in the PDP.
“What we are seeing today is just a storm in the tea cup.
“If you want to step out of the party, you are free.
“This is the only party you can leave and return and become a national party chairman.
“The people are not with those who do not respect constituted authority.
“Those who do not respect authority will not get authority.
“Struggling your way through with might and propaganda will not give the presidency.”
On his part, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, harped on loyalty to the party and discipline.
Tukur said: “We must learn to accept change in order to build on democratic principles.
“Our party cannot be relevant to the people only once in four years, when votes are needed, but at every time in order to improve their lot.
“Dialogue and reconciliation should be encouraged but our politics should be based on issues rather than personalities.”
Jonathan, who spoke at a post-National Special Convention of the PDP in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was glaring to those who broke away from the PDP that they could not survive without the party, hence their decision to call themselves the New PDP.
He said: “Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the New PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.”
Among those who broke away from the PDP to form a parallel National Executive Council are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja; and seven governors elected on the platform of the party.
The dinner was well attended by party members and elders, including Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; and four former National Chairmen – Senator Banabas Gemade, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and Chief Ezekwesili Nwodo.
However, three key figures of the ruling party were conspicuously absent.
Those absent included former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the President of the Senate, David Mark; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
Jonathan, in his brief remarks, said his government would do everything possible to keep the PDP together.
On the crisis rocking the party, he expressed optimism that the ongoing reconciliatory effort by party elders and governors would resolve the crisis.
The President said: “Without PDP, it is like saying Nigeria has not started because PDP is the only party that has come to give that political leadership in this country.
“Even the opposition, whenever we are having convention, they don’t sleep because they know that without PDP there will be no democracy in Nigeria.
“PDP has been able to show that stability.
“We will do our best as the leaders of the party now, by your grace, to keep PDP one and to keep Nigeria one.
“That some of us have grievances is normal and has been happening.
“We will do everything possible to make sure that the party grows stronger.
“In any human institution, there must be disagreements.
“What happened (the factionalisation of PDP) is a minor disagreement that can be solved.
“For those who have issues, we thank the elders and governors who have meeting and listening to them.
“We are committed to resolving our differences.
“Even those that are aggrieved call themselves the new PDP, meaning they know without PDP they are nothing.
“PDP is intact.
“That we have some disagreements is normal.
“PDP is intact and will remain intact.
“We will make sure that the party remains one.
“Those who left will rejoin us.”
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, had told the President: “The House is full.
“It is a family dinner.
“The biggest family dinner.
“All your former chairmen are here.
“They stand by you come rain, come shine.
“This is your party.
“There is only one PDP and 90 per cent of Nigerians are with you.
“Majority of Nigerians are happy with your leadership.
“They like you and they love you.
“Those that are not here are those on the wrong path.”
Also speaking on behalf of the governors, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Obong Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, said the country would not break up under Jonathan’s administration, noting that he has survived major challenges in the recent past.
Akpabio said: “We want Nigerians to challenge us on performance not on the pages of newspapers.
“We want to assure you there is no faction in the PDP.
“What we are seeing today is just a storm in the tea cup.
“If you want to step out of the party, you are free.
“This is the only party you can leave and return and become a national party chairman.
“The people are not with those who do not respect constituted authority.
“Those who do not respect authority will not get authority.
“Struggling your way through with might and propaganda will not give the presidency.”
On his part, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, harped on loyalty to the party and discipline.
Tukur said: “We must learn to accept change in order to build on democratic principles.
“Our party cannot be relevant to the people only once in four years, when votes are needed, but at every time in order to improve their lot.
“Dialogue and reconciliation should be encouraged but our politics should be based on issues rather than personalities.”
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