Against the backdrop of rumours of his possible drafting into the 2023 presidential race by the All Progressive Congress (APC), former President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to make his services available in the effort to reconcile members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and strengthen it.
This is according to the Chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee and former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who spoke to reporters after leading the committee members on a visit to the former president at his Abuja residence on Tuesday.
Saraki informed that Jonathan has pledged to do all that is within his power to help the PDP to return to power.
The former Senate President has therefore admonished the ruling party without naming it by name to refrain from efforts to lure Jonathan away from the main opposition party.
He said: “We are members of the national reconciliation and strategy committee set up by the party and part of our task is to meet with our former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan. We are starting off with our former President and we are here to let him know what our plans are and also to hear his own views and advice on what we need to do and how to do it as well as how we need to strengthen the party and reconcile aggrieved members in order to bring about unity and focus in our party.”
The former Kwara State governor described the meeting with Jonathan as very fruitful, advising other parties courting the former president to perish their thoughts.
Saraki added: “It was a very useful meeting. He gave us his views and we are very happy. He reassured all of us of his commitment to the PDP and he told us that he is still ready to offer his time, experience and resources to strengthen the party and that is very strong and important for us. Of course, you know there are funny issues going on but we are leaving this place very happy.
He is also ready to work with the reconciliation committee to play his own. That is a great step for the party. We have put that behind us all those people of the other party that would like to come and disturb our leaders. Our leaders are here and they are ready to work for the party,” he added.
On whether the issue of a possible return to the presidential race for Jonathan was discussed, Saraki said: “We spoke about what role former Presidents like him will play and he left us feeling very happy that yes, he will like to play that role in the PDP and helping our committee to move forward.”
He further said that those “disturbing” the former president to abandon the PDP should cease and desist
With Saraki at the meeting were former Cross River, Katsina and Gombe states governors, Liyel Imoke, Ibrahim Shema and Ibrahim Dankwambo, respectively; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and erstwhile House of Representatives leader, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande.
