PDP Shares Blames

Jonathan caused our 2015 poll loss — PDP Vice Chair

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

The National Vice Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has said the party lost the 2015 election because former President Goodluck Jonathan did not allow a northerner to be the party’s candidate.

Ojougboh stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday.

The PDP chief alleged that Jonathan broke a power shift pact, an action which, he said, led to the party’s failure during the general elections.

Ojougboh said the PDP had learnt from its mistakes and would not take the zoning arrangement, as it is enshrined in its constitution, for granted anymore.

He further alleged that Jonathan agreed to serve one term in 2011 but could not summon the courage to resist the advances by some party leaders to stick to the agreement.

Ojougboh said voters in the North rejected Jonathan and voted for President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, a northerner.

He attributed to Jonathan’s alleged failure to honour his initial gentleman agreement that he would govern for only four years and return power to the North.

He expressed his regret that Jonathan reneged on the promise after assuming power.

Ojougboh also said there was a gentleman arrangement between the 34 ‘great’ men that formed the PDP that they would start shifting power eight years to the North and eight years to the South, which was written in PDP’s constitution.

He said, “So, everybody cooperated when (Olusegun) Obasanjo became president.

“After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president, then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no; PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no it will not work.

“The PDP had to produce a candidate and that was how Yar’adua came. Unfortunately, Yar’adua did not survive, so the North said ‘this presidency is ours, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.”

“Jonathan himself said he would do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan would do only four years so that the power can shift to the North.

“When time came, a lot of Macapa dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest.

“Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say ‘no, I will keep my agreement.’

“So, Jonathan contesting meant that zoning formula had been breached. The North didn’t take it kindly; they said ‘no, this is not what we agreed on’.”

He said the allies of the President and his loyalists, especially those from the North-Central, also joined in rejecting the PDP and the President at the polls.

He further said the refusal by the President to abide by the agreement could also be the reason why the PDP lost five of its governors to the APC.

“Even the Christian North that used to be very friendly, especially the North-Central, said we had an agreement,” he added.

He, however, said there was opportunity for the PDP in the future because he believes that the APC-led Federal Government will not stand the test of time.

Ojougboh added that the PDP would have no hands in the APC-led Federal Government’s affairs.

Asked if in order to strengthen the party, the members of the National Working Committee of the party would resign, he said no, adding that they would all remain in office till March, 2016 when their tenure would expire.

Meanwhile, Ojougboh also accused the Nigeria Police of being biased and partisan in the handling of the controversy arising from the recent nullification of the May 23, 2015 local government elections in Rivers State.

He said, “A Federal High Court annulled an election and it is not expected that the governor will just leave the councils and create a vacuum. The governor has every right to institute caretaker committee and that is what the governor has done. This is right before man and God and in the eyes of the law.

“Why would the police now go and seal off the councils? We call on the police to immediately unseal the council so that the council can function properly. That is what is expected of a civilised government.”

Reacting, the Rivers State Police Command disagreed with the PDP chieftain maintaining that the action of the police was predicated on the protection of lives and property.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad said in a text message sent to Sunday PUNCH, “They (PDP) are entitled to their opinion, but the fact remains that our action is predicated on our constitutional mandate to proactively protect lives and property.”

Also reacting, the state chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, described the PDP national vice chairman’s allegation as “watery, baseless and misguided.”
credit: PUNCH NG