Presidency Pleads With PDP Dissenting Govs To Be Reasonable, Law Abiding

PDPThe Presidency has described Saturday’s formation of a new faction of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the “height of irresponsibility” just as it said that President Goodluck Jonathan was unperturbed by the action of the governors to stage a walk out while the special national convention of the party was taking place on Saturday in Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, who was particularly miffed by the action of governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), said if their intention was to cause crisis in the party as a precursor to their jumping ship, they would not succeed.

Speaking on Sunday in Abuja, the presidential aide reminded the governors that the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and other extant laws were very clear on the issue and therefore, there was no basis to misbehave or act irresponsible.

Gulak said, “That development is the height of irresponsibility. Nobody expected people in their positions as governors to do that. They should know what the law says. They should know what INEC regulatory Act says.

“They should know that there is only one PDP and if they want to precipitate crisis in the PDP, they will not succeed. If they want to leave PDP and join another group, they are at liberty to do so.

“As far as we are concerned, there is one PDP and the party had its national convention yesterday (Saturday) and we elected officers to fill the vacancies in the National Working Committee.

“As far as the PDP is concerned, we remain a united family but if your son or daughter decides to be a prodigal son or daughter, so be it. But we plead with them to be reasonable; to be law-abiding; to know that nobody is above the law.

“The Electoral Act and the constitution and extant laws are very clear on this issue. They have no basis at all for misbehaving; they have no reasons at all to be irresponsible. They should come back to their senses and abide by the rules and regulations if they want to continue in PDP.

“But if they have decided to abandon PDP, jump ship and join another political party or form another political party, they are at liberty. We are not perturbed; we are not disturbed. Everybody has the right to aspire to the highest position in this country.”