Thugs on Saturday disperse leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who were gathered at the convention venue, Abuja to ratify former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.
- +Thugs attack, chase PDP leaders from convention venue
- +…As Gana calls for a truly independent INEC
The thugs invaded the A Class Center, Abuja, shortly after the party officials presented the certificate to Jerry Gana, for onward delivery to the former President
…As Gana calls for a truly independent INEC
The thugs invaded the A Class Center, Abuja, shortly after the party officials presented the certificate to Jerry Gana, for onward delivery to the former President
Gana, while speaking to Journalists after the presentation, lamented that he was at great “pain that I see this situation, that so many years after democracy we are still being reduced to this.
” But I thank God that I am one of the founding fathers of this party, and PDP is a legacy party. We were the ones who did the transition to democracy in Nigeria.
“When we negotiated with the military government in 1998, believe you me, it was so serious that we were not going to agree to be part of a transition program, as civilian political leaders, unless three things happened.
He recalled that it took Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of the UN at that time, came all the way from New York to chair that meeting between us and the government of the day. The meeting was held at the Nicon Hilton.
“Three distinguished Nigerians represented the political class. Dr. Alex Ekweme, of blessed memory, Senator Abraham Adesaya, of blessed memory, and myself, Professor Jerry Gana, still on this side.
“But I’m sad, I’m still very, very sad, that after so many years of development in Nigeria, we are still being reduced to this, under democracy.
He declared that the group is insisting that it will not be part of the transition program “unless the Electoral Commission became the Independent National Electoral Commission.
” Unfortunately, after so many years of development, is INEC now independent? No! We insisted, and they agreed.
“That’s how the name, you remember, most of you remember, that before we had the National Electoral Commission, we were the ones who said, no, no, we have to have independent National Electoral Commission. And believe me, for a number of years, at least when the PDP was in power, INEC did their best to be independent. Today’s INEC is not independent. Today’s INEC is really a mess.
” If you don’t have a good umpire, you can’t have good elections. And democracy cannot survive if you can’t have good elections. That’s why we’re here.
“We’re supposed to be having a special convention in a very, very well-organized place. Now the police have taken over the whole… Are we back into military rule? No! So that’s 0 out why we’re here.
“Because we insisted that we must have this special convention today. So we’re having this special convention in a very special way. And I want to thank all of you for being so courageous.
He insisted that Nigerians must have a better government.
” And we are gathered for this because we want to have a presidential candidate to lead our struggle. That’s why we’re here.
“I told the chairman, I said, even if it’s under whatever condition, we must have this special convention today.
“I thought we were leaving a legacy. I was going to withdraw. How many so many years we’re still having this? We can’t have a simple special convention because somebody will want to disrupt. This is a disgrace. Publicly let the whole world know that Nigerian democracy is challenged. Challenged because people cannot meet freely.
“Well, they don’t want us to have a presidential candidate because it’s the final day. Fortunately for me, this chairman is wise. This chairman is dogged.
“This Chairman has been selecting. Therefore, he has briefed us that we’re going to have a presidential candidate. Shall we have a motion? Any motion? We’re going to have a presidential candidate.”
Tony Aziegbemi, Chairman of the Edo state PDP and chairman of the PDP state chairman’s forum, had earlier moved the motion for the presentation of the certificate to the former President
“In spite of intimidation, we are here in our numbers. I have the singular honor and privilege to move a motion. On behalf of all the state chairmen that conducted free, fair, credible primaries in their various states.
“And having adopted President Goodluck Ebele-Jonathan as his sole presidential candidate. I hereby move that this special convention do ratify the motion”
He was supported by Mohammed Dagashi.
“I stand here, my name is Senator Mohamed Sanusi Degash.
“I have been with the PDP from inception to date. The party has been good to Nigeria, has been good to everybody.
“Unfortunately, we are now challenged with the same people we have developed over the years, and put in critical positions to the extent that today they are anti-PDP. God knows why.
“But we stand confidently here. And we are representing the whole nation. With regards to the PDP network nationwide.
“I stand to second the motion moved by my brother, Dr. Tony Azegbeme. Who has been in the trenches since 1999. To support the motion he has moved in adopting General Goodluck Ebele-Jonathan as our sole candidate and presidential candidate for the electorate.
The Certificate was collected by Fred Agbedi, on behalf of former President Jonathan.
