President Goodluck Jonathan has said that PDP will work to lead Nigeria to greatness. Jonathan spoke in Sokoto on Saturday at a grand reception organised for a former governor of the state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, who defected to PDP with his supporters from APC. Jonathan stated that PDP remained the symbol of democracy in the country and that Nigerians, including religious leaders, business leaders, men and women who are not partisan politicians, believe in the party. He added that if Nigeria was practising parliamentary system of government, he would have called for early elections to prove that PDP was still in control despite the gale of defections it was experiencing. The President said, “I was telling some people when we were coming this morning (Saturday) and I saw the crowd, that if we were running a parliamentary system, where the prime minister can call for early elections, I would have called for early elections. “Let us see where this noise is coming from, whether they are supported. Some people are afraid to go back and contest the seats because in a normal setting, if a parliamentarian leaves his seat and crosses to another party, the assumption is that you have consulted with your constituency and they agreed that you should cross over. “Such a parliamentarian would want to call for early elections to show that he is going with his constituency, but in Nigeria, the story is different.” While listing the feats achieved by his administration in education, agriculture, power and road construction, Jonathan disclosed that after Sokoto, the team would also go to Imo, Kano and all the geo-political zones to showcase the party’s achievements to the people. He added that Nigerians get jittery when they hear the challenges the party is facing “because the feeling is that if anything happens to PDP, it will affect the country.” “The reasons are obvious; PDP is the only party that is stable. It has undergone its changes. Other parties are still changing, we don’t know where they will change to but PDP is stable at all levels and we promise that PDP will continue to give leadership at all levels. “PDP is the only party that has the vision to lead this country to stability and economic revolution,” he stated. Vice-President Sambo commended Bafarawa for his bold initiative in joining the PDP with his large followers. “The umbrella will soon be filled up, those wishing to join should better do so on time,” he said. National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, said the PDP remained the party to beat in the country in the next 60 years. In his remark, Bafarawa said he was led into joining the fold of the PDP on the instruction of his people. He assured the President that as far as Sokoto was concerned, he should “go to sleep.” He said, “Mr. President, I don’t want to tell you too many stories. As far as Sokoto is concerned, you can go and sleep. You don’t have any problem. We have been winning the elections; we have been rigged out and manipulated out. “Today, we are back to the mainstream of PDP; there is no other party that will get even a councillor seat in Sokoto, except PDP. This is a message I’m delivering on behalf of my people and the entire people of Sokoto State.” Jonathan also commended the people of the state for their sustained support for PDP and urged them not to relent. He commiserated with the people and government of the state over the recent fire disaster at Kara Market in Sokoto. Also, Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Senate President David Mark expressed happiness with the defection of Bafarawa to the party. “The PDP umbrella is getting filled up and the PDP will sustain the provision of the dividends of democracy to Nigerians,” Sambo promised. The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, described PDP as the winning party. “The achievements of the PDP are tangible all over the nation and this would be sustained,” Mu’azu said. The Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, said that no amount of conspiracy would stop PDP from winning the elections at all levels in 2015. The Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, said PDP was the most organised, disciplined and resourceful party in Nigeria. “The achievements of the PDP in the state and Nigeria generally speak for themselves. “The president loves Nigeria and he has demonstrated this love in many ways,” Shagari said.by D ROCK
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