President Goodluck Jonathan
By Chuks Okocha
As permutations for the 2015 presidential election continue, the political machinery of the late former Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters, General Shehu Yar’Adua, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), has said the aspiration of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar cannot stampede the group in taking a decision on who to support.
The steering committee of the PDM, which is expected to meet October 4, also said it cannot stop the presidential aspiration of either Jonathan or Atiku.
The former Abdulaziz Farouk committee had endorsed President Jonathan in the 2011 presidential primary of the PDP.
This development put a sword of disunity within the once vibrant political machinery.
Surmounting all odds, the group met last month where a protem national steering committee was put in place with Chief Bode Ajewole as chairman, while Godie Ikechi became the secretary.
Other members of the committee include Senator Abubakar Mhadi, Yar’Adua’s son, Muritala, Dr. Etim Amba, Bashiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Tonye Princewill and Olupunle Ebo as members.
In an encounter with the Secretary of the Steering Committee, Godie Ikechi, he said the new PDM was undergoing reformation and will not succumb to any pressure or be stampeded to support either Atiku or Jonathan.
Ikechi explained that whatever decision to be taken by the PDM in the politics of the 2015 presidential election would be unanimous.
According to him, “whatever happened in the past belongs to the past. Under the new dispensation of repackaging the PDM, any decision to be taken would be unanimous and bidding.
“We will not allow the political group called the PDM to be stampeded into taking any decision or supporting anybody.
“Equally, it is right to state that the new PDM is not a political party and therefore cannot stop any politician from aspiring to become what he or she wants to be. Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar or President Jonathan can aspire to become what they want to become with or without the support of the PDM.
We cannot stop any one of them,” Ikechi explained.
Asked whether what happened in 2011 when the group threw its weight behind Jonathan, the National Steering Secretary said, “But at the appointed time, we as a pressure group will take a position as we did in 2011 and this would be seen as a family decision, a collective decision, not an individual affair.”
However, THISDAY gathered that the aspiration of Atiku who is a staunch member of the PDM and the support Chief Anthony Anenih is offering to President Jonathan is tearing the association apart.
It was under the guidance of Anenih that the PDM supported Jonathan in 2011.
Ikechi said that the National Steering Committee of the PDM will on October 4 meet on the state of the nation and thereafter in December another meeting with all representatives from the wards, local governments and states to discuss the national seminar would take place.