Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on
Tuesday condemned ongoing
electioneering by some members of the
Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the 2011
general elections.
The Acting President has also told all
warring factions in the party to sheathe
their swords and close ranks in the interest
of peace.
Jonathan made his feelings on current
developments within the PDP known in a
statement from his spokesman, Mr. Ima
Niboro.
The statement was released just before the
Acting President headed to the PDP national
headquarters for a meeting of the party ’s
National Executive Committee.
Condemning the early campaigns, Jonathan
also warned that he would not tolerate any
plan to drag his name into the matter, in a
bid to cause problems in the polity.
The statement reads in part, “He (Jonathan)
decried a situation where some persons
were already positioning for the 2011
elections, even when an electoral time table
is yet to be released.
“He warned that he would not tolerate a
situation where his name is dragged into
these premature permutations with a
deliberate intent to heat up the polity. ”
Calling for peace in the party, the statement
said, “Acting President, Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan, has asked all contending groups
within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to
close ranks in the interest of peace within
the party, and the nation at large.
“Jonathan expressed concern that the party
is gradually drifting towards intractable
crisis, and called on all leaders of the PDP to
sheath their swords and desist from acts
that can complicate an already difficult
situation. ”
Jonathan also warned that the party’s rules
must be respected in order to avoid
anarchy.
Quoting the Acting President, the statement
said, “Our great party is governed by a
constitution, just as our country is
governed by laws. We must abide by the
laws and articles of association that hold us
together. To do otherwise is to court
anarchy. ”
Before leaving for the NEC meeting,
Jonathan met with the party ’s embattled
National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor,
in his office.
Ogbulafor is currently facing corruption
charges, and his position had also come
under threat in recent times.
A former chairman of the party’s Board of
Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, also met with
Jonathan in the Presidential Villa before the
NEC meeting.
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