Jonathan seeks review of PDP delegates

…promises to give reasons for 2015 loss

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The immediate past President of the country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has harped on the need for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to, in the next review of its constitution; review the number of statutory delegates for its primary elections.

Dr. Jonathan gave the advice when he received a delegation of the former Speakers, State House of Assemblies elected on the platform of the PDP in his office in Abuja.

The former President said that one of the major challenges facing the PDP was how it elects candidates and national officers of the party.

He said that there would always be crisis to the outcome of the party’s primary elections or conventions until the numbers of statutory delegates to those elections were reviewed to about 70 per cent.

Jonathan further maintained the PDP must work out modality in which no one person could influence the delegates to elections.

The former President eressed the firm belief that those who had served at certain levels, including governorship, ministerial, parliamentarian positions at all levels, should be made statutory delegates.

According to him, “That is the area we have not been able to manage properly that is still creating problem for us.
“I believe the next constitution amendment should advocate for that area to be properly examined.

“From my own experience, if that area is strengthened the party will be okay and no body will complain at the end of primaries.

“If you loss, you loss gallantly and you support the person that wins”, he said.

Speaking on the issue of war against corruption by thenAll Progressives Congress, APC led Federal Government, Dr Jonathan advised PDP members not to be intimidated.

His words, “There are stories of corruption. I say this will always be there because if you read the statement of the organisers of the first military coup, their statement was attributed to corruption.

“After that all the coup plotters it is always corruption. It will continue to be but one day we will get out of it. Most nations passed through this stage of life.

“The only thing I plead of you is not to politicise certain basic things. Issues of corruption, yes, it is worrisome. No body will encourage it.

“The society must come up with reform to reduce it, if you cannot eliminate it totally. No Society is 100 per cent free of some of these vices but the approach you go about it is key.

“You may approach it in a way that it will become detrimental to the society. It should be done in a way that will enhance the development of the nation. So we encourage people to do well”, he said.

The immediate past President assured that he, in due course, would air his own view on why PDP lost in the 2015 general election.

According to him, “PDP is still the strongest party. We know the reason why we lost elections.

“People may be writing left and right, at the appropriate time, some of these things would be properly addressed because of history.

“There are certain things you don’t write now because it would be misunderstood as if you are playing politics.

“After some years, five, six or eight years, when the beneficiaries have left, you can state it in written and people will not fight with you”, he stressed.

He encouraged them to continue with the party unlike those playing “politics of the stomach” defecting to other parties.
Jonathan insisted that the PDP did well during its ruling for 16 years by the number of reforms its introduced and implemented.

The former president commended the forum members for coming together to form such association, saying they were important in the strategy of PDP reclaiming power in 2019.