President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday commended the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party for its efforts in bringing back Ekiti State to the PDP fold and urged it to bring back Lagos, Osun and other states.
Jonathan made the commendation when members of PDP National Executive Committee, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to congratulate him on the successful conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election.
The President challenged the PDP to continue to work hard so as to ensure electoral victory for the party in future elections in the country.
He said: ”At least, we have seen clearly that Ekiti is now a PDP state.
“We pray that we will work very hard, sell our ideas, our programmes, manifesto to Nigerians so that we will accept us for what we are.
“We always say that we will not disappoint Nigerians.
“We believe that we will even do more in other states.”
Jonathan commended members of the security services, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders for ensuring smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.
He said: ‘‘Let me appreciate Nigerians for their determination and patriotism for this country and to reassure them that the PDP leadership will continue to do its best for this country.
‘‘We are not chameleons.
“We don’t change.
“No mutation in PDP.
“We don’t transform to all kinds of characters and colours and shapes based on circumstances.
“We are what we are and we will continue to preach what we believe in and do our best for this country.”
The President reiterated the determination of his administration to address all the socio-economic challenges facing the country.
He, therefore, reassured Nigerians that the PDP-led Federal Government would continue to pursue the ongoing transformation of all sectors of nation’s economy, especially in the area of rail transport, agriculture and education.
On security challenges, the President promised Nigerians that the problem of insurgency and other social vices were being addressed.
He said the insurgents would soon be crushed.
Earlier, Mu’azu had told the President that they were in the Presidential Villa to congratulate him over the electoral victory of the party in Ekiti State on Saturday.
He also thanked Jonathan for his patience, leadership, focus and support at all times.
Mu’azu said the election was conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner that the result was generally accepted by local and international observers as well as the opposition party.
He thanked the President for ensuring internal democracy in the PDP, adding that the Ekiti State electoral victory was a clear demonstration of Jonathan’s style of leadership.
According to him, the party will not have fielded Ayodele Fayose as its governorship candidate in the Ekiti State election if it had considered the Nigerian factor.
He said: “Fayose, ordinarily if the Nigerian factor comes in, will never have been our candidate, but you and I know that even after he emerged, the sort of groups that came to report me that I have done the wrong choice.
“And more often, when they are caught red-handed coming to the Villa, Mr. President will insist that I must be there and I will say I have seen the same people, I have explained to them.
Mr. President will still insist for me to hear, to listen.
“That at the end of the day, the truth will prevail.
“With the support of Mr. President, hence the choice
“Because without getting our first 11, which is on very good support and encouragement, we would not have been celebrating today.”
Fayose defeated Governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.
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