PLEASE DONT GO- GEJ TELLS AGGRIEVED ASPIRANTS

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday appealed to all Peoples Democratic Party aspirants who are aggrieved as a result of the outcome of its primary elections across the country not to ditch the party.

He said the party leadership was working hard to resolve the conflicts thrown up by the primaries in many states.
Jonathan spoke at the PDP Fund Raising Dinner held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Many state chapters of the party are currently enmeshed in controversy over alleged cases of imposition of candidates either by state governors or the national headquarters.
The situation had led to many party stalwarts leaving the party or threatening to leave.
Among those who have left to join opposition All Progressives Congress were Jonathan’s former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Samuel Ortom, after he failed to clinch the party’s governorship ticket in Benue State.

Jonathan however said it was better for aggrieved party members to remain in the system to correct whatever they felt is wrong in the party than jumping ship.
Although he said conscious efforts are being made to resolve the post-primaries crisis in some states, the President admitted that all the cases might not be resolved to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned.
He however said the party would be guided by the issues raised when preparing for the primaries of the 2019 elections.
He said, “We all appreciate that throughout the congresses where primary elections were conducted, there have been some outstanding issues.
“The party is working to resolve these issues. Definitely, in such situation, all may not be resolved to the satisfaction of everybody.
“But my plea to party members is to remain committed to the party; stay with the party.
“I know other parties are wooing some of you to contest elections on their platforms, but if you believe in democracy then you will contribute to strengthening it.
“The only way you can strengthen democracy is for you to stay in your party.
“If there are some issues you feel are not too correct, it behoves on us to stay together and correct them. That is the only way we can grow democracy.
“If out of anger or frustration, you leave the party because you didn’t get what you wanted, then you are not contributing to the growth of democracy.”
The President said the major task before the ruling party was to ensure that the country remain united.
While thanking those who donated the over N21billion realised at the dinner, he said the money was needed to build a formidable party.
He observed that if parties were tied around individuals, there would be dictatorial tendencies in such parties.
Jonathan said the PDP must complete work on its new national headquarters next year because the project had dragged for too long.
He promised that the money realised would be judiciously utilised like his administration had done with the different funds raised earlier.
Describing his administration as business-friendly, he promised donors of more policies that would promote enterprise and industry.