‘President Goodluck Did What No African Leader Had Done’ PDP Governors Commend Jonathan

by Deji Abiodun & Agency Reports

The governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have commended President Goodluck Jonathan for sacrificing his political ambition for the sake of Nigeria.

Giving the commendation after a meeting with President Jonathan along with other PDP governors, the chairman of the the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, said that the party would not lose any of its states during April 11 governorship elections.

He expressed the hope that the party would retain the states it currently governs even though it lost the presidential election last Saturday to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Akpabio told reporters in Abuja on Wednesday that President Goodluck did what no other African leader had done.

According to him, Dr Jonathan had set a record in Africa by conceding victory to the opposition despite what he called glaring flaws characterising the election, like malfunctioning voter card readers and intimidation.

“We came to pay solidarity with our President and to commend him for being a statesman. Honestly, he has done something that no other African leader has ever done.

“It is such a very flawed exercise, with underage voters everywhere with disparity within states… But yet, he looked at it and said, in spite of it all, I want to ensure peace, unity and stability of the country. Let me give an opportunity to the APC presidential candidate to come in and also give his all to the country.

“That kind of sacrificial stand by the President can only come from a PDP president.

“We came to assure him that we are going back as field commanders to hold our states and that come 11 April, the PDP will still maintain its lead across Nigeria,” Governor Akpabio said.

He reiterated the party’s position that it would explore possible legal options in seeking redress over the anomalies observed during the election.

“I am sure the PDP, as a party, will react on matters connected to the election of March 28,” he said.

The candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari won Saturday’s election, polling 15,424,921 votes to defeat all other candidates. Dr Jonathan of the PDP polled a total of 12,853,162 votes to place second.