Goodluck Jonathan opens up on reported defection to APC

Speculations are growing that former President Goodluck Jonathan will abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jonathan is also said to be considering another presidential run under APC in 2023 with Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai as running mate.

But the former president, who has been seen warming up to successor Muhammadu Buhari and other APC big wigs, says he remains a member of the PDP.

Jonathan restated his commitment to the PDP at the supreme court victory and thanksgiving service of Bayelsa governor Douye Diri.

The event was held at the State Ecumenical Centre, Yenagoa at the weekend.

“PDP has been a very friendly party,” Jonathan said.

“I am a PDP member, and I know from the beginning till today that it has been a very friendly party.

“PDP is a party that carries everybody along. Let us work together for the interest of our people.

“We should learn to play politics as politics and not as a war; at the end of every political process, let all of us come together and support whoever by divine providence God has made to be there.

“In Nigeria, what we know, especially at the national level, is government change through coups. And at the end of that coup, whether the coup succeeds or not both parties live as enemies. Sometimes they stay as enemies till they die.

“But our democratic process is recognised by law.

“So, we the modern-day politicians should not begin to practice democracy and contestation to power as if we are organising a coup.

“At the end of the political process, we expect that both parties should come together.

“The winner carries everybody along, and leaders who contested the election must know that it was a political process known by law and whoever wins, we agree that God gave him that position,” he said.