The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed over weekend’s visit by some APC governors to former President Goodluck Jonathan, a PDP chieftain in Abuja.
While the PDP said the visit underscored an endorsement of the acceptability of the former president and the PDP, the ruling party said the opposition platform was rattled and disoriented by the visit.
PDP Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbodiyan said in a statement that the visit affirmed that “Nigeria as a nation is better under the leadership of the PDP.”
“The visit, which is a clear endorsement of the acceptability of the PDP administration, also indicates that the APC, in 2015, only created artificial symbols of misgovernance, corruption and other alleged misgivings just to discredit our party and grab the levers of power to achieve their selfish desires”.
Ologbodiyan added: “It is evident that the Jonathan administration succeeded in office basically because our party understands the nuances of our nation, which we translated into people-oriented polices and programmes, in line with the manifesto of our party, to make life comfortable for Nigerians.
But, chiding the PDP for its reaction, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena said PDP has lost focus.
“The PDP is obviously rattled and disoriented by the recent courtesy visit by some Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni led the APC delegation.
“At a time when the PDP and its leadership is grappling with a crisis of confidence, one would expect the failed opposition to focus on picking itself up.
“As a party for all progressives, the APC on its part will continue to consolidate on its national appeal and acceptance.”
Jonathan and the 2023 election
Dr Jonathan on Friday, played host to four APC governors – Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa): Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); and National Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), along with some party leaders.
The governors’ visit to the former president, barely 24 hours after the Ebonyi governor defected to the APC, was said to have upset the PDP leadership.
According to sources, what unnerved PDP leaders was that no APC governor had paid Jonathan a birthday visit since he lost power in 2015.
Another event that was said to have heightened fears in the opposition camp was the presence of some PDP big wigs at the wedding ceremony of Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Nasir El-Rufai’s son in Abuja.
Dr. Jonathan was said to have supported the APC during the last governorship election in his Bayelsa home state.
Also, PDP leaders have expressed concern over the likelihood of the APC leaders baiting Jonathan with the ruling party’s 2023 presidential ticket.
They fear the former President may swallow the bait, with the possible implication of returning power to the North after a-four-year tenure. Constitutionally, Jonathan has only a single chance to contest for President again.
