Splinter PDP: Amaechi, others shouldn’t misbehave – Presidency

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN

The Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, blew hot on Sunday over the emergence of a factional PDP, Obasanjo and Akpabio preached reconciliation.

Gulak, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja, said the formation of the new PDP was the “height of irresponsibility.”

He said if the intention of the seven governors was to cause crisis in the party and then jump ship, they would not succeed.

The presidential aide said with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and other extant laws, the governors and the others in their group had no basis to misbehave or be irresponsible.

Gulak said although the PDP remained one united family, it would not be moved if some of its members opted to become “prodigal sons or daughters.”

He said Jonathan was not disturbed about the development because of his belief that everybody had the right to aspire to the highest office in the land.

Gulak said, “That development is the height of irresponsibility. Nobody expected people in their positions as governors to do that. They should know what the law says. They should know what INEC regulatory Act says.

“They should know that there is only one PDP and if they want to precipitate crisis in the PDP, they will not succeed. If they want to leave PDP and join another group, they are at liberty to do so.

“As far as we are concerned, there is one PDP and the party had its national convention yesterday (Saturday) and we elected officers to fill the vacancies in the National Working Committee.

“As far as the PDP is concerned, we remain a united family but if your son or daughter decides to be a prodigal son or daughter, so be it. But we plead with them to be reasonable; to be law-abiding; to know that nobody is above the law.

“The Electoral Act and the constitution and extant laws are very clear on this issue. They have no basis at all for misbehaving; they have no reasons at all to be irresponsible. They should come back to their senses and abide by the rules and regulations if they want to continue in PDP.

“But if they have decided to abandon PDP, jump ship and join another political party or form another political party, they are at liberty. We are not perturbed; we are not disturbed. Everybody has the right to aspire to the highest position in this country.”