2015: I’ll unite all factions – Jonathan

From the President came an assurance yesterday that he will unite all aggrieved parties in the just-concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries held across the
country. He gave the promise in his acceptance speech on his victory at the party’s National Convention, held at Eagle Square, Abuja which began in the late afternoon on  Wednesday and ended in the early hours of yesterday.
This is even as he announced that Vice President Namadi Sambo will be his running mate as   the campaign for the 2015 presidential elections begins.
He described Sambo “a loyal and tested partner, a dependable, trustworthy gentleman and a true patriot”, adding, “Vice President Sambo and I will campaign together to record another resounding victory for our great party in the coming elections”.
He called on party faithful not to fall for the opposition’s  intimidation, false accusations and  hostile media. He stressed, “do not descend to their level. We must stay focused on the mission at hand – to secure Nigeria’s future.
“Let me emphasise again, that nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We must eschew violence, even in the face of the most outrageous acts of desperation.
“We must make sure our supporters have their voter’s cards.  We must get them motivated and eager to make their mark. It will be a mark for our children. It will be a mark for a stronger economy. A mark that will secure Nigeria’s future”.
Jonathan who noted that with the current challenges, ‎there is the need for political parties to rise above board and provide hope and development to Nigerians.
‎He said, “Nigeria is undergoing great changes at this time, and also experiencing great challenges; so, political parties must rise above the fray, to provide hope and clear direction, to propel the development of our country”.
On the controversies trailing the primaries across the states and the need for the party to remain united, Jonathan said,  “As expected in every contest, especially political contests, the journey to this convention has not been without issues in some constituencies. Indeed, party congresses from the ward to state levels, and the legislative and state primaries, have produced both triumphs and some misgivings.
“Without prejudice to various on-going resolution mechanisms, we will take steps, after the elections to review and refine the candidate selection procedures within our party. An appropriate committee will be set up to work on this, with contributions across board.
“I commend the efforts of the supervising and appeal committee members, who travelled across the country to conduct and oversee the primaries and congresses. I appreciate also the dedication of the various working committees and special committees engaged in organising and delivering all aspects of the election season programmes.
“As party members, we must be conscious of the responsibility we hold to our nation. The political party is the vehicle for national organisation, and the PDP is the foremost political party in Nigeria.
“For the sake of the entire nation, we must, at this time, more than ever, stand together as one united party. We are all joint stakeholders, this party belongs to all of us.
“This convention shows that we are ready. The PDP is ready. Nigerians know we are ready. And today in Abuja, we begin the next phase of our mission. Our mission is to secure Nigeria’s future. The choice before Nigerians in the coming elections is simple: A choice between going forward or going backwards; between the new ways and the old ways; between freedom and repression; between a record of visible achievements and beneficial reforms – and desperate power-seekers with empty promises,” Jonathan said.