President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday told the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sule Gambari that, with new timetable reeled out for the 2015 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission had come up, he would return to Ilorin to campaign for his party in six month time.
Speaking when he paid homage to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari during his one-day visit to the state, Jonathan noted that, while the stability of the country was non-negotiable, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the party that had ensured the stability of the country.
He noted, however that, as the 2015 general elections inched closer, the era of imposition of candidates or godfatherism in the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was a thing of the past.
According to him, the two vices must be jettisoned to pave the way for elected representatives to serve the people diligently.
Noting that since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)had come up with the programme for 2015 elections, he would return to Ilorin to campaign for his party in the next six months, Jonathan said, “So we are here to ginger our members. Also to use that opportunity to tell others that they need to join PDP because I believe it will not be less than six months we may probably come back or between six and eight months depending on how the party decides.
“I don’t know Muazu has come up with times table for our congresses. So we don’t know but we would come back shortly to really introduce people we believe would be used for various elections and of course we would also ask you to convey our own messages to others.
”But today, we are at your emirate and it will not be fair just to move down to the square that we want to use without reporting to you because you are a father to all and you have been a father to us, you have given us your blessings before and your blessings have manifested in very big successes. And we believe that you still use your position to bring all your children together for the interest of this great state and for the interest of our dear country.”
Speaking later in the day before a crowd at a PDP rally held held in Ilorin Metropolitan Square, Kwara State tagged “Unity/ Freedom Rally” where he received some defectors from other parties, the president noted that all stakeholders in the party irrespective of his or her status, would be given free hand to serve the people without being hindered from any quarters.
He said, “PDP is not for any dictator because it encompasses of all Nigerians irrespective of his or her status and also have every voting units across the country. PDP is not for individual, it is not for dictator. There is no more godfatherism and no more imposition in the party in order to allow the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“It is the people that matter in politics and not individual because when you get into politics, you have to think of people who voted for you and not thinking about yourselfa. If you are to get involved in politics, it is your people that matter, not yourself. To get involved in politics, you have to think about your people and not yourself.
“People who think about the people follow the people’s party and PDP is the only people’s party. PDP is the party that even if you go outside Nigeria, you ask which are the political parties you have in Nigeria, you will say PDP and others because it is only in PDP that every polling unit not just wards that you have PDP members.”
Stressing the point that there are no dictators in PDP, He added that PDP is the only party that people like him could come from nowhere can stand up and become President of this country, even as he said those elected on the platform of PDP are given the freedom to do their work without any molestation.
Jonathan said, “PDP is not owned by any individual or group of individuals. We don’t have dictators in PDP. We have people who believe in the people, that is why in PDP we talk about one man, one vote. No more imposition, no more godfatherism.
“I am a President now, I have a governor in my state, I have never controlled him because he was elected by Bayelsans, he has to serve Bayelsans and not Goodluck Jonathan. Though we monitor your activities but we will give you the freedom to work. It is only in PDP that the governor serves the people of the states and the President serves Nigeria.
”PDP is the only party that will liberate everybody and a state like Kwara state, it is only PDP that can give you what you want. So today this rally is a unique rally, it is a freedom rally, this rally is a rally to liberate everybody and after this rally today every Kwaran son and daughter is free; free to play the politics the way they want it and play the politics the way they want it.
Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo said the federal government had done a lot for the people of the state especially in the area of education, agriculture, among others.
He observed that, the large turn out of the people of the state at the rally, was an indication that the transformation agenda of Jonathan’s administration was working.
Senate President, Senator David Mark said “for the people of Kwara come out and grace the rally showed that, the people of the state still believe in PDP.
“It is a clear indication that Kwara is for PDP and Let me confess, we have gone round, like Imo state, the turn out in Kwara today is the biggest. All those that had left PDP will soon come back and they should be forgiven and accommodated them”.
National Chairman of PDP Alhaji Adamu Muazu said the rally marked the beginning of good things for the people of Kwara State.
In his address the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio said stakeholders of the party stormed Ilorin to give solidarity to the people of the state who are yearning for freedom.
According to him, Kwara had always been in supportive of the power at the centre, and as such the state must remain in PDP for permanent freedom in the state
One of the defectors, Mr. Muhammed Dele Belgore(SAN) thanked Jonathan for receiving them into PDP, promising him that, “the people of Kwara state will deliver for him in 2015 general elections.”
Others defectors include, Senator Gbemisola Sarak, Princess Bilikisu Gambari, Alhaji Abdulraham Abdulrasaq, Rev. Bunmi Olusonna, Alhaji Akeem Lawal, son of the former governor of the state,
Prominent personalities who attended the unity rally included, Governor of Akwa Ibom and chairman, PDP governors forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state, Chief. Liyel Imoke, deputy governor of Kogi state, Hon. Yomi Awoniyi, deputy governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Mukthar Shagari, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh and Minister of Sport a Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi,
Others are chairman PDP Boards of Trustees, Chief Tonny Annenih, former national chairman of PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Senator Ahmadu Ali, all the members of the national working committee of PDP, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro,
Earlier in his palace, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sule Gambari thanked the president for the homage paid to him.
He said Ilorin is a peaceful town and cannot afford to be hostile, saying the emirate is a home for all.
”We thank God for your anscension and transition that has been quiet and peaceful. I Pray that whatever you have to come again to do, you come peacefully as you have done in the past,” he said.
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