President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits: nigerianbulletin.com
| credits: nigerianbulletin.com
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party would continue to dictate what happens in the party until its delegates’ pattern was changed. The President spoke during a stakeholders’ interactive session at the Jigawa State Government House, shortly after inaugurating the Dutse International Airport.
He explained that with the party’s current delegates’ pattern for national elections, any governor that knows his onions should be able to control 70 per cent of the delegates from his state. He said if any (Presidential) aspirant did not get up to 70 per cent delegates votes from a particular state, the aspirant should know that the state governor was not for him.
He said, “I always tell our party (the PDP) that until we change our delegates’ pattern, the governors must dictate what happens. The present delegates we have for all national elections, any governor that is fit to be a governor has control of about 70 per cent, whether we like it or not. “So, if you (an aspirant) don’t get up to 70 per cent or 60 per cent from a state, you know that that governor, no matter what he says, is not for you. In the general elections, the governor cannot control all the state.”
The President said contrary to media report, he had no problem with the state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido. He said on the contrary, the governor was a person he could trust. The President said he knew the role Lamido played in the 2011 elections which he (the President) won. While saying that he assessed state governors then on how many votes he got during the presidential primaries, Jonathan said if a governor meant well for him, even if he was unable to control the total number of votes during the general elections, he must deliver, at least, 70 per cent during primaries.
“I used to tell people that I don’t have a problem with Sule Lamido. Even if there is a problem today, Sule Lamido is somebody I trust. He does not deceive. Let me reassure you that we have no problems; myself and Sule Lamido, and definitely I will not have problems with the people of Jigawa State. All we have to do is to strengthen our relation more and more and work together,” he added.
Meanwhile, while speaking earlier at the inauguration of the airport, Jonathan assured all stakeholders that the Federal Government remained committed to air safety.
He promised that the government would work hard to sustain the Category A rating. He said accidents could occur but the government would do everything possible to prevent them. While he promised that the government would assist the Jigawa State government with an undisclosed amount, the President said the Federal Government would not write off the entire N15.5bn expended on the airport.
He explained that with the party’s current delegates’ pattern for national elections, any governor that knows his onions should be able to control 70 per cent of the delegates from his state. He said if any (Presidential) aspirant did not get up to 70 per cent delegates votes from a particular state, the aspirant should know that the state governor was not for him.
He said, “I always tell our party (the PDP) that until we change our delegates’ pattern, the governors must dictate what happens. The present delegates we have for all national elections, any governor that is fit to be a governor has control of about 70 per cent, whether we like it or not. “So, if you (an aspirant) don’t get up to 70 per cent or 60 per cent from a state, you know that that governor, no matter what he says, is not for you. In the general elections, the governor cannot control all the state.”
The President said contrary to media report, he had no problem with the state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido. He said on the contrary, the governor was a person he could trust. The President said he knew the role Lamido played in the 2011 elections which he (the President) won. While saying that he assessed state governors then on how many votes he got during the presidential primaries, Jonathan said if a governor meant well for him, even if he was unable to control the total number of votes during the general elections, he must deliver, at least, 70 per cent during primaries.
“I used to tell people that I don’t have a problem with Sule Lamido. Even if there is a problem today, Sule Lamido is somebody I trust. He does not deceive. Let me reassure you that we have no problems; myself and Sule Lamido, and definitely I will not have problems with the people of Jigawa State. All we have to do is to strengthen our relation more and more and work together,” he added.
Meanwhile, while speaking earlier at the inauguration of the airport, Jonathan assured all stakeholders that the Federal Government remained committed to air safety.
He promised that the government would work hard to sustain the Category A rating. He said accidents could occur but the government would do everything possible to prevent them. While he promised that the government would assist the Jigawa State government with an undisclosed amount, the President said the Federal Government would not write off the entire N15.5bn expended on the airport.
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