2019: ‘PDP must win the presidency’- Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “must win the presidency” in the 2019 general elections.

Jonathan said this on Tuesday when he received Raymond Dokpesi, an aspirant for the party’s national chairmanship position, at his residence in Abuja.

He warned members of the party not to make the mistake of choosing the wrong person for chairman of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the December convention.

Read also: 2019: Buhari the only option, ‘what God brought him to achieve, he’ll definitely achieve’- Ortom

Jonathan said, “This time around we need a very courageous and vocal person to be the chairman.

“There are two positions that we must not make mistake on – the positions of the national chairman and that of the national publicity secretary, because I have worn the shoes before and I know where it pinches.

“If we make a mistake as a party and elect wrong chairman and publicity secretary, we are finished.

“We need a very competent person and a team player, somebody who will not negotiate to get money from the aspirants to make them candidates.

“If you do that, you have destroyed the party because a party must come up with programmes and policies that will elect the best of the best.

“If you present the best material, the chances of your wining election are stronger than when you present a wrong material.

“We need such kind of chairman that will galvanise the national committee and also link up with state committees and do the best for the party.

“This is key so that by 2019 when we go for the general elections, PDP will have the majority in the states and national assemblies and of course, PDP must win the presidency.

“Whatever comes out, as faithful loyalists of the party, you should accept it. So, whoever is going to contest should have that in mind.

“Recently, I read that you met with one of the aspirants; that is a good spirit; no victor no vanquished. The winner must be PDP and not an individual”.

Jonathan also spoke on the need for the party to play its role as opposition effectively.

“I am not saying that as an opposition party you must been saying anything you like, no. PDP is a very mature party.

“We will not go to the quarter and criticise anyhow but all over the world, the opposition party checkmates the ruling party so that things are done properly so that there will not be impunity.

“If the opposition party goes to sleep, the ruling party can do anything it likes”.

 

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