Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leadership to do everything to stop Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State in the governorship primary that is expected to take place on Monday (today) in Lokoja, even as he clearly told the governor not to expect his support for his second term bid.
One of the senior aides of the governor told ThisDay last night that, “It started like a rumour; but former President Jonathan came out openly today (Sunday) and told the governor that he would not support him. And as I speak with you, he is calling leaders of the PDP in the state not to support the governor in the primary that will take place on Monday.’’
It will be recalled that the PDP primary designed to pick its flag-bearer in the state was scheduled to hold last Thursday, September 10, but was put off in the last minute by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and fixed for today, Monday.
Even though the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, had attributed the postponement to ‘’logistics issues,’’ it was learnt that the postponement was at the instance of Jonathan to enable the party’s leaders decide on the alternative candidate to Capt. Wada.
According to the source, “Politicians have no conscience. What has Governor Wada done to deserve all these from Jonathan? Anyway, God is with us; let’s wait and see what will happen on Monday.’’
Investigations has shown that Jonathan and his supporters within the PDP’s organs had blamed the Kogi State’s governor for the party’s poor outing in the state during the March 28 presidential election.
In that election, the erstwhile ruling party was roundly defeated by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, including in Wada’s ward and local government area and Jonathan’s men believed it was a deliberate act by the governor.
“Jonathan believed then and he still believes the governor supported the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, because he is a Muslim; but it is not true. It was Senator Smart Adeyemi and Col. Ahmadu Ali, the former national chairman of the PDP, who misinformed the former president,’’ the governor’s aide added.
Aside Jonathan, other PDP leaders against Wada’s re-election include: former PDP national chairman, Ali; former Governor Ibrahim Idris; Senator Adeyemi; Senator Tunde Ogbeha and others.
Comments