.as he launches ex-president's campaign in Lagos
By Our Reporter
Governorship Candidate of Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, on Wednesday affirmed that former President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to contesting the 2027 Presidential Election, assuring that Jonathan’s decision to obtain the party’s nomination form and certificate of return showed his commitment to returning to office and turning the country around for better.
Pearse stated this while launching the Presidential Campaign of Jonathan in Lagos, saying that the event was organised in accordance with the PDP’s structure, under which governorship candidates coordinate presidential campaign activities in their respective states.
"In every state, the governorship candidate represents the presidential campaign of that state. That is why I am here today. On behalf of our presidential candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, we welcome all of you today to the announcement of his race for the presidency in 2027,” Pearse said.
Pearse, who spoke at the event attended by PDP chieftain, including the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the party, Barrister Bolanle Akorede; House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Rolmel Lele, for Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2; Shehu Rafiu, the Youth Leader, Amuwo Odofin Local Government; Alhaji R. O. Odubonojo, Otunba Wale Fasan, Vitalis Ejimafor, Chairman of the party in the council area; Mrs. Oluwatosin Aminu, Woman Leader, Mainland Local Government, Mrs. Risikatu Alebiosu, among others, commended the leadership and members of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area for their longstanding contributions to the PDP and their electoral performance.
“I want to acknowledge the effort that this local government area has put into our party for so many years. You are one local government that has won several competitions. That is why we came here today to the winning local government area to launch the presidency of the winning candidate, Goodluck Jonathan," he said.
He urged party members to remain focused despite disagreements within the party, saying the PDP would work towards victory in the 2027 General Elections.
"There are some party leaders who take it upon themselves to create havoc in the party. They will divide the party. They will terrorise people. They will discredit people. But I am an old man in this game. I have been here for a long time. Nobody is going to terrorise us," he said.
"Nobody is going to scare us. Nobody is going to discourage us. We are going to continue to do this work, and we are winning this election," he added, noting that success of the presidential campaign would depend significantly on the strength of the party’s structures and governorship campaign in each state.
The PDP governorship candidate asserted that the Jonathan campaign had the support of the party’s national leadership, citing a message he received from the national chairman, Kabiru Turaki, noting that the former president's relatively quiet approach to political activities should not be interpreted as lack of interest in the 2027 election.
"Goodluck Jonathan has spoken already in many ways. When you pick up your nomination form and your certificate of return, it is obvious he is running. You know why he is not shouting everywhere? It is because we have been accosted by Wike and Co. So he doesn't want to get into very bad arguments with those people. That is why he is resilient, he is quiet,” he said.
"If Jonathan was not running, would he have taken the nomination form? And if he was not interested in the certificate of return which we gave him, he would not have accepted it through his representative. I spoke to Goodluck Jonathan today, and he told me that he is excited, ready to go, empowered and determined," he said.
He dismissed suggestions that Jonathan’s candidacy would divide Southern votes and benefit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential Election.
"I am sorry, that is stupid. It is so silly that it is not even worth comparing. Why would Goodluck Jonathan be splitting the vote? Does Tinubu have the votes? So what vote is he splitting?” Pearse asked.
"Everybody is campaigning for the vote. Is it only the South that is going to determine the election? He will win what he can win in the South. And he will win what he can win in the North. Let Tinubu go and win,” he said.
Speaking further, Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate, Pearse, described Jonathan as a democrat, citing his concession of the 2015 presidential election and subsequent international engagements as evidence of his democratic credentials.
This was just as recalled that besides his resolve to willingly gave up power because he didn't want Nigerian blood to be shed, Nigeria under his regime recorded the highest GDP in Africa, surpassing South Africa for the first time in the history of Nigeria, adding: "Under Goodluck Jonathan, there were no political prisoners, hewas a real democrat."
He said Nigerians should expect economic progress, peace, security and respect for democratic institutions from a Jonathan presidency as, according to him, he had demonstrated again and again that he's a true democrat who allows people to vote their conscience.
Pearse said PDP would continue to mobilise members and supporters ahead of the 2027 election, adding that Jonathan’s presidential campaign had formally commenced in Lagos.
On the Lagos governorship election, Pearse expressed confidence in the PDP’s chances against the APC candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, saying some voters who supported the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 election could return to the PDP in 2027, assuring that his administration, if elected, would focus on development across all divisions of Lagos State.
He maintained that PDP would campaign on competence and development, rather than ethnic considerations, ahead of the Lagos governorship election.
“Lagosians are voting for the best candidate for governor. Somebody who will take care of their needs. Somebody who understands that the money of Lagos is going to be used to develop Lagos,” he said.
“I will develop the whole of Lagos. Every division will be charged with serious development. I will release my manifesto very soon. This week. Because it's written already. We'll make it public and you will see careful development in every way,” Pearse said.
“Because the money is there. And I will spend Lagos State money on developing Lagos State,” he added.
On his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate and the choice of his running mate, Barr. Bolanle Akorede, Pearse also said it had strengthened the party’s prospects in Lagos, noting that Lagos had never had a stronger governing ticket.
This was just as he further noted that his longstanding involvement in the PDP would help promote unity within the party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
"With me as the governorship candidate and Barrister Bolanle Akorede already as my deputy, Lagos has never had a stronger governing ticket.
"This is the first time that you are having a candidate for governor who is a bona fide member of the party. You didn't bring me here from somewhere. I have my own support in the party. A divided house is a defeated house.
"One of the problems that we always have is the division within. We are not going to have any division. Everybody in the party is going to support me,” he stated.
Pearse, therefore, urged PDP members and supporters to remain united and work for the success of the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the event, the House of Assembly Candidate for Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1 on the platform of PDP, Hon. Hon. Rolmel Lele, appreciated party leaders and stakeholders in attendance, saying that this is time for PDP to take the mantle of leadership in the state, even as described former President Jonathan as a leader with good heart needed to rule the country, come 2027.
According to Lele, Jonathan is a caring leader, who cares for people's lives, adding: "You can't compare anybody with him, this is the kind of leader we want to lead Nigeria from 2027."
"We are calling on Nigerians to vote for former President Jonathan, come 2027," he said.
On the governorship race, the House of Assembly Candidate for PDP asserted that Dr. Pearse is a true indigene of Lagos, assuring that the party was ready for guber poll, come 2027.
He further assured that Pearse if voted as the next governor of Lagos State would deliver good governance, describing him as a grassroots leader, who should be rallied to victory by Lagosians.
Lele, while noting that PDP does not have money but Nigerians by its side, also thanked the National Leadership of the party headed by Dr. Tanimu Turaki, and urged for support for them to enable them deliver Nigeria, come 2027.
Also speaking, the PDP Chairman for Amuwo Odofin, Vitalis Ejimafor, equally assured that the party would win Lagos in the coming governorship and presidential polls by defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), calling on Lagosians and Nigerians in general to vote the PDP.
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