Jonathan’s defeat, temporary setback for PDP – Presidency

The Presidency on Monday described the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the

2015 presidential election as a temporary setback for the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

The defeat of the President by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), brought to an abrupt end, the 16-years rule of the PDP.

But the Presidency said supporters of the PDP should not despair, adding that the defeat should be an opportunity for the party to re-strategize and plan ahead.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

He described the outcome of the 2015 general election as a temporary setback and not the final destination for the PDP.

Alkali appealed to the supporters of President Jonathan to use this transition period as a time for reflection to heal and re-strategise.

He said, “I wish to appreciate and thank all the groups and individuals that have contributed one way or the other to support President Jonathan during the election.

“We should all see the outcome of the presidential election as a temporary setback not a full-stop in a long sentence of the political history of this great country Nigeria.”

He said though the President and the PDP lost in the election, the loss did not mean a final bus-stop, adding that all the supporters of President Jonathan still remain the most critical political assets of the PDP and await the direction of the party.

“It is conceivable that as a result of this unprecedented setback, our members and supporters may lose focus, hope and direction and even be tempted to engage in divisive activities, nonetheless, we should be more united than ever before as the task now is to join hands together to strengthen the party”, Alkali stated.

He called on all the supporters of President Jonathan nationwide, especially those that contributed to the campaigns and stood for the President in the just concluded presidential election, to remain calm and resolute as the country prepares for the May 29th handover to the incoming administration.

Responding to questions on the decision of the President to concede to his opponent even when the entire result of the election was not announced, the Presidential aide said, “Our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has displayed and establish an exceptional legacy that will remain permanent not only in Nigeria but in the whole of Africa.

“The President’s actions to call and congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari before the final results were announced shows that Dr. Jonathan is a man of his words and is leaving an indelible mark in the sands of time”.

He expressed appreciation to the supporters of the President and everyone for their individual and collective support and urged them to have faith in the PDP.

The Presidential Adviser further advised those promoting chaos and disaffections in the country to desist from it because according to him, Nigeria has shamed all doomsday prophets. End