The New Peoples Democratic Party said on Monday that President Goodluck Jonathan did not tell the truth when he claimed on Sunday evening that he never told anyone that he would not contest in 2015.
Rather, the faction of the ruling party insisted that the President promised in February 2011 not to contest after one term.
Jonathan had during a media chat said, “There was no agreement with anybody that I will serve for only one term. If I had signed any agreement with anybody, they would have shown you the agreement.
“I did not say that I will not contest in 2015. In Addis Ababa, that was when I advocated single term of seven years. My argument was that to be more productive, maybe we should consider single term of seven years.
“I said if Nigerians agree to that, I may not be involved. I did not say I will contest or not. Those who said I have signed an agreement, they should show the agreement.”
But the New PDP, insisted on Monday that Jonathan had in 2011 promised not to contest in 2015.
The National Publicity Secretary of the New PDP, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said, “In February, 2011, while interacting with Nigerians and diplomats working in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union in Ankara, Turkey, the President said that he would have loved that the Nigerians in Diaspora voted during the election that year, but added that that would be very difficult.
“Presently, the law does not allow voting outside Nigeria and so this year Nigerians in Diaspora will not vote but I will work towards it by 2015 even though I will not be running for election.”
Eze also said the President went ahead to say that four years was enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and that if he couldn’t improve on power within this period, it then means he would not do anything even if he was there for another four years.
He said that at the appropriate time, members of the New PDP would expose the President, adding that with his statement on Sunday, it would be more difficult for Nigerians to believe him.
The New PDP spokesman added, “Why would our President deny the statement he made in a broad-day light, even in the presence of international media?
“Why, because of ambition, would our President deny the words that came out of his mouth and statements he made not under duress? Truly, the President is desperate and with this; he has shown that he cannot be trusted.”
Eze said that at the appropriate time, Nigerians would get a copy of the communiqué of the PDP governors meeting, which he said was attended by 20 governors in December 2010.
The meeting, he added, was a prelude to the meeting of the National Executive Committee meeting that approved the guidelines for the 2011 elections, including the presidential primaries.
He said that it was at the meeting convened by the then National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okweliseze Nwodo, that an agreement was reached that Jonathan would be in office for just four years.
A copy of the agreement reached at the meeting was said to be with one of the governors of the South-South supporting the President.
Meanwhile, a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the silence of the government over the rumour that some members of the Peoples Democratic Party were being picked and detained for no identifiable crime against the country or anybody.
In a statement by his media office in Abuja, Abubakar said the PDP crisis was an internal family disagreement, which should not give anybody the right to arrest those who express dissenting voice.
According to him, “criminalising legitimate dissent over internal disagreements could lead Nigeria to a police state and thereby, defeat all the basic features of the democratic system.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Whether he promised or not, he has the right to change his mind. Kick him out at the polls not disturbing his administration.
ReplyDeleteY did Fashola contested 4 a 2nd term in office. He said it is only an individual dat fails dat goes back 4 carry-ova. He wount fail he wount b seeking 2nd term. Where is he 2day. Jonathan has every legal ryt 2 contest and win. So struggle 2 defeat him bcos u can't stop him.
ReplyDeleteEze, does what you just quoted sound like a promise to you? You are not the counstitution of nigeria neither the people he was alleged to make the promise are representatives of the entire nigerian masses. So please allow the gentleman president whom we elected to do his job and if he seeks another term, he is entitlef to. You nor your ethnic serving cohorts cannot stamp him out of the contest. If you want to contest, prepare yourself for primaries or you go to your party APC. You are not speaking for nigerians and you are an impostor.when were you elected a publicity secretary.?
ReplyDeleteThe way the PDP are fighting, One would think that the position of the Nigerian President is for any one of them that contests. Is there a plan in place ? I just wonder. Jonathan has a rethink so what?
ReplyDeleteThese Governors should be called to order. They are treading the path of treason. I personally don't like the Jonathan administration and will not like to vote for him. But he should be allowed to focus on governance.
ReplyDeleteEven if he said he will not contest, he has the right to change his mind. It is not a criminal offence. Besides it is wrong for anybody vying for an office to go there having two tenors in mind at the onset.
Governors may be immune to civil cases but not when treason is involved.The impunity with which people talk down on our representative should stop. AJ
All these governors are making noise for nothing, i tell u, no one else can be better than our president, occultic people that wants to cage nigerians, people should be wise, these people are not taking us anywhere if you are surpporting them, you will be the one to cry tomorrow. God gave the children of Isreal rest, but they complained that they needed king, until God gave them saul who martreated them, and they also cry back to God and the ever merciful father gave them David. As it happening in nigeria now God will not even turn his face to you again if you don't take time.
ReplyDeleteIs it that the new pdp is telling Nigerians that Our Presidential election is decided on a round table? Or is it that the 2011 election never held? Or are we under the dictates of a Cabal? Or is it that INEC doesn't have any role anymore? Don't they know they could be arrested for this stupid claim? Useless fools.
ReplyDeletePlease Mr Baraje & Co give us break. If you are interested in the office then prepare & meet him in the field come 2013. For now let us talk more important things.
ReplyDeleteBaraje barawo grp! Did jonathan swear to an oath dat he wl not run 2nd term? Did he tell nigerians wen he was oath of office or being sworn in? If u like go and manufacture a signed agreement and present to naijas. GEJ is beta dan any of u G7
DeletedIS NEW PDP OR WHAT DID THEY CALL THEMSELF SHOULD BETA THINK OF HOW TO MOVE US FORWARD NOT DISTRACTING US OR DID AMAECHI NOT SAY HE SHOULD NOT BE VOTED IF HE CAME BACK FOR SECOND TENURE?DID HE NOT?PLS NEW OR ABBERATION PDP SHOULD SLEEP
ReplyDeleteLook Eze and cos should stop over heating the politics there is a lot of time ahead for anyone to decide his future position---Basil .C
ReplyDeleteBaraje is an empty container,they have nothing to offer nigerians .they cultist
ReplyDeleteweda u like it or not, he wil b d next president,bulshit
ReplyDeletey'r ds pple disturbing a constituted authority lik ds,jonatan has nver had rest since he enterd ds seat.it's all abt nois from ds miscrants.imagine if it 's OBJ our of dem will come to beg him at momnt day open der mouth talk rubish fools Baraje nd co!.
ReplyDeleteDesperadoes only build their strategies around someone getting out of the way. They lack the ability to contest.
ReplyDelete