PDP lost because Jonathan flouted zoning arrangement – Party chief

Former President Goodluck Jonathan

The Peoples Democratic Party has confessed that former President Goodluck Jonathan betrayed it with his refusal to allow a northerner be the party’s candidate in the 2015 Presidential election.

It said the former President actually broke the power shift pact, an action, it said, led to the party’s failure during the general elections.

But the party said it has learnt from past mistakes and would therefore not take the zoning arrangement enshrined in its constitution for granted anymore.

PDP National Vice Chairman, South-South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, stated this while speaking with some journalists in Abuja on Saturday.

He admitted that  Jonathan agreed to serve one term in 2011 but could not summon the courage to resist the advances by some party leaders to breach the agreement.

Ojougboh said northern voters rejected Jonathan and voted their son, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress during the election, because the PDP candidate, former President Jonathan, went contrary to the initial gentleman agreement that he would govern for only four years and return power to the North.

He said the north ought to be in power for eight years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo finished his second term.

When his (Obasanjo’s) successor, late President Umaru Yar’Adua died, Jonathan pledged before everyone, including traditional rulers, to do only a single term of four years, adding that this was why he was voted for in 2011.

He regretted that Jonathan reneged on the promise after assuming power.

Ojougbo also  said there was a gentleman arrangement by the 34 ‘great’ men that formed the PDP that they would start shifting power eight years to the north and eight years to the south, adding that it was enshrined in the PDP constitution.

He said, “So PDP had the first shot, everybody cooperated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no, PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no, it will not work; wonderful.

“The PDP had to produce a candidate and that is how Yar’adua came. Unfortunately, Yar’adua did not survive so the North said look, this presidency is ours, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.

“Jonathan himself said he would  do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan would do only four years so that the power can shift to the North.

“When time came, a lot of Macapa dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest.

“Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say no, I will keep my agreement.

“So Jonathan contesting meant that zoning formula agreement had been breached. The North didn’t take it kindly; they said no, this is not what we agreed.”

He said the allies of the President and his loyalists, especially those from the North-Central, also joined in rejecting the PDP and the President at the polls.

He said the refusal by the President to abide by the agreement could also be the reason why the PDP lost five of its governors to the APC.

He said, “Even the Christian-North that used to be very friendly, especially the North Central, said we had an agreement.

“Some governors, about five of them, left the party because they saw what was happening. So it was this pressure that made the North now agreed that they must take power back, that it was their turn.
“Fortunately or unfortunately, only two candidates were presented at the election whether you like it or not; Jonathan and Buhari. Buhari is from the North, Jonathan is from the South.
“The south had done more than enough for agreement of 1998/1999. So the North said look, we are going to vote for our son whether he is good or bad.”
He, however, said there was opportunity for the PDP in the future because he believes that the APC-led Federal Government will not stand the test of time.
Ojougboh added that the PDP would, however, have no hand in the APC-led FG affairs.
Asked if in order to strengthen the party, the members of the National Working Committee of the party would resign, he said no, adding that they would all remain in office till March, 2016, when their tenure would expire.