PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said former President Goodluck Jonathan broke the power shift pact leading to the party's failure at the recently conducted general elections.  The party also said that it has learnt from past mistakes and would not take the zoning arrangement enshrined in its constitution for granted. Addressing newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, PDP national vice chairman South South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said the North rejected Jonathan and voted President Muhammadu Buhari, their son, into office because Jonathan went contrary to the initial gentleman agreement of 1998 that he would govern for only four years and return power to the North. He said there was a gentleman arrangement by the 34 'great' men that formed the PDP that they would start shifting power eight years to the north and eight years to the south, adding that it was enshrined in the PDP constitution. "So PDP had the first shot, everybody cooperated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no, PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no it will not work; wonderful. The PDP had to produce a candidate and that is how Yar'adua came. Unfortunately, Yar'adua did not survive so the North said look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.” Ojougboh further said "Jonathan himself said he will do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that the power can shift to the North. When time came, a lot of Macaba dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest. Unfortunately, Jonathan didn't have the nerves to say no, I will keep my agreement. "So Jonathan contesting meant that zoning formula had been breached. The North didn't take kindly with it; they said no, this is not what we agreed. Even the Christian North that used to be very friendly, especially the North Central said we had an agreement. Some governors about five of them left the party because of that because they saw what was happening. So it was this pressure that the North now agreed that they must take power back, that it was their turn.”