Jonathan Is Not Contesting 2019 Election- PDP South South League

Concerned members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-South region, under the aegis of the PDP South-South League, yesterday, debunked rumors that the former President Goodluck Jonathan would contest for presidential election under PDP comes 2019, warning against any attempt to ridicule his image

by Vanguard Newspaper Sep 11, 2017

Concerned members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-South region, under the aegis of the PDP South-South League, yesterday, debunked rumors that the former President Goodluck Jonathan would contest for presidential election under PDP comes 2019, warning against any attempt to ridicule his image. 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan The group through its Chairman Barr. Ariolu Tebidapa (Delta State) and the Secretary, Mr. Akpan Ibibio (Akwa-Ibom state), in a statement issued in Abuja, accused some people, who worked against the party interest during its crisis in the region, as the brain behind the rumors.
“It is obvious, that since after the supreme court judgement that laid to rest the leadership crisis that rocked the PDP, some persons within the party in the region, are still not settled due to the role they played, in spite of the fact that the party has granted amnesty to all those who worked against the interest of the party."
“These persons see the former President, Goodluck Jonathan as a threat, hence their reactions in trying to attack his personality,” the group said.
They said it was ridiculous to allege that former President Jonathan wanted to hijack the party structure in Bayelsa State for his presidential ambition in 2019, explaining that it was a known fact that the PDP had zoned its presidency to the North.
According to them, “We have read in the dailies about some persons insinuating that the former President intends hijacking the party structure in Bayelsa State, in order to actualize his presidential ambition. This, however, sounds laughable; we see it as an attempt to ridicule the former President. "
“His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan is not contesting for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even though he is well qualified constitutionally and by pedigree, he is still widely loved and accepted by Nigerians. However, the PDP has zoned its presidency to the Northern part of Nigeria. So, we wonder what these fifth columnists really want to achieve by selling falsehood."
“It is also not true that the former president is attempting to hijack the party structure in Bayelsa State. We consider this story an imagination from those who are being chased by their shadow. As the leader of the party, how can he (Jonathan) be interested in only one state, when the party is preparing for elective congresses and National convention? If at all, former President Goodluck Jonathan is interested in anything, it should rather be who leads the party at the national level to push forward his vision for Nigeria."
 “Consequently, we consider all these as attempts to distract the attention of the former President, at a time when he is busy working with other party leaders and focusing his attention on how to reposition our great party and Nigeria for the challenges ahead."
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan has made the South-South region proud during his service as President, with his achievements of international reckoning and sacrifice to keep Nigeria united. We think he deserves every respect and regard."
“There is no amount of blackmail or insult by these detractors, no matter how hard they try, that can erase the achievements of former President Goodluck Jonathan.”