The defection of five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors, legislators and their supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has resulted in a breath of fresh air for the ruling party because since their defection, PDP has been growing in leaps and bounds, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of party faithful at the North-central solidarity rally, which held at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna, Niger State, yesterday, the president described the defectors as anti-progressive elements, who were holding down the ruling party by their antics.
“If some people have been with the PDP for 14 years and now they said they are leaving for progressive, the question is where are they progressing to? It means in past 14 years, they have been involved in retrogressive activities in the PDP and were problems to us and you will agree with me that now that these retrogressive elements have left, PDP will progress more”, he said.
Jonathan, therefore, called on Nigerians, especially PDP supporters, not to be intimidated by anybody – in veiled reference to the opposition – who uses the media to preach violence but to remain focused on the achievements of the ruling party in the years past.
In his brief remarks, Vice-President Namadi Sambo thanked the people of North-central for their support for the PDP in past years and called on them to remain loyal and dedicated to the party.
The president immediately left Minna for Sokoto where he paid the Sultan, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, a private visit in his palace. He has since returned to Abuja.