I am overwhelmed, humbled – Jonathan
By Samuel Ogidan
Abuja
The endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was yesterday ratified by the party National Executive Committee (NEC) at its 66th meeting in Abuja.
This is even as the President said he was overwhelmed and humbled by the decision of the party leaders to endorse him as their sole candidate, promising that between now and October ending there will be drastic change in the activities of Boko Haram.
The ratification of the party’s decision followed a motion moved by a former Defence Minister and an ex-National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bello Haliru Mohammed and seconded by the former Anambra state governor, Chief Jim Nwobodo.
Speaking on behalf of the governors, Niger state governor and Chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum, Babangida Aliyu said “on behalf of my colleagues, I inform this meeting that the governors met yesterday and adopted the President, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, as the sole candidate of the party for the 2015 Presidential election.”
He said all the governors, including Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, were unanimous in the decision to endorse the President.
Speaking on behalf of the leadership of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, South-west, said the organ resolved to adopt Jonathan in order to ensure stability and continuity of the party’s programmes.
“We willingly adopt President Jonathan as the sole candidate for the party,” he said.
Similarly, Senate President David Mark, who spoke on behalf of the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, said the legislature had been harping on the imperatives of continuity and had long ago endorsed Jonathan for a second term.
Mark said: “If there is any arm of government that want continuity is the legislative arm. What we are doing here today is not only for Jonathan but for legacy.”
The PDP women led by Ambassador Justina Eze said there is no vacancy in Aso Villa, adding that they all adopt Jonathan as their candidate.
Responding, President Jonathan said, “let me specially thank our governors that initiated that action; though of course before that, the House of Reps in a meeting I had with them made a similar thing but when the governors come up with a giant sign paper, it’s like atomic bomb.
“I know the media people will expect me to say something. I am so overwhelmed that I lack words to express my mind. I will reserve that to an appropriate date that will come.
“But I can only promise members of our party and indeed Nigerians that for you to have that kind of confidence in me is a big challenge. But I promise I will not disappoint you.”
Commenting on the spate of terrorists’ attacks in the country, Jonathan assured that the spate of insecurity would be a thing of the past by the end of October.
