No rift between Jonathan and Mu’azu, says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied reports of a row between Goodluck Jonathan, its presidential aspirant, and Adamu Muazu, national chairman of the party, saying the duo enjoy an excellent working relationship.

It made it clear that the chairman remained loyal to the president and the party, as against an earlier report published by a newspaper on Monday.

“The PDP wishes to state clearly that our leaders and members nationwide are impressed with his style of leadership, which has in the last one year enhanced our support base and public rating ahead of the 2015 general elections,” read the statement, signed by Olisah Metuh, PDP’s national publicity secretary..

“It is incontrovertible that the national chairman has been at the forefront of our presidential campaign train and enjoys an excellent working relationship with President Jonathan as exhibited in their bond at rallies, visits and meetings with stakeholders across the country.

“Whereas we recognise the zeal and enthusiasm of some of our supporters who are repaying the opposition in their own stock, our national chairman, as the face of the PDP, has remained restrained despite numerous unwarranted provocations, a stance which does not in anyway detract from his commitment to the campaigns but reinforces our values and dedication to unity, peace and stability of our dear nation.”

PDP went on to say Muazu has shown exemplary leadership to the party, which is in turn instrumental to the goodwill the party enjoys among Nigerians.

“This exemplary style of politics played significant role in reducing the tension in the polity ahead of the elections and has also endeared our party to a majority of Nigerian citizens and key stakeholders in the electoral process.

“It is to the credit of the national chairman that his leadership stabilised our party at its critical moment and successfully achieved unity among our leaders and members while strengthening the confidence of Nigerians in the PDP as the only vehicle to deliver democracy dividends to them.

“Also indisputable is his deft application of wealth of experience and far-reaching connections to galvanize the entire party structure in adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as our sole presidential candidate, a project to which he has remained unflinchingly committed.

“Since the commencement of the campaigns, our national chairman has evolved and maintained a dynamic structure that involves members of the national working committee engaging in personal and group campaigns as well as strategic meetings with critical stakeholders in their respective states and zones to ensure the success of President Jonathan and other candidates of our party in the elections. This is in addition to effective coordination of party structures in all the zones, states, local governments and wards across the country.”

The party described the reported row between the presidency and the party chairman as mischievous and an attempt to distract the party from the goal ahead.

“Indeed, we are aware that the aim of those behind the mischievous report is to sow seed of discord and cause confusion within our ranks, distract the leadership and undermine our presidential campaign, which is now coasting swiftly to victory to the chagrin of the opposition.

“Finally, we wish to state categorically that the PDP remains resolute as one united family and no amount of media fabrications and malicious insinuations will distract us from our focus ahead of the elections.”