The national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned former militants from the Niger-Delta region to refrain from making inflammatory remarks which could undermine the chances of its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan in the February general elections.

Some former militants from the zone had last weekend at Government House in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State capital threatened that they would not accept the results of the forthcoming presidential election, except the incumbent President and PDP presidential candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner. Dr Jonathan is from Bayelsa State.

The former militants in attendance at the meeting with host governor, Seriake Dickson, were: Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Victor Ben Ebikabowei, (Boy Loaf) and High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo)

But speaking with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh expressed concern over such remarks which he noted could be counter-productive and create disaffection for the party and its presidential candidate.

Metuh expressed optimism that the party would win convincingly the presidential and other elections.

According to him “Though, the PDP would not be held responsible for all their comments, we caution them to be mindful of what they are saying, especially as it concerns the unity of the country. PDP is a national party. Though the President is from Bayelsa state, but he could be loved more by the people of Anambra state than the people of Bayelsa state.

“The President is not the President of Ijaw nation alone, he is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Even yesterday (Thursday), the President in Yola said that he received more votes from the people of Adamawa State than he received from his home state, Bayelsa State. He said that Adamawa state gave him more votes than Bayelsa State. So, he is not the President of the Ijaws alone.”

The party national publicity scribe further warned other Jonathan’s support groups to be circumspect and allow themselves to be guided by the admonition of President Jonathan who called for issues based campaigns.

“The various support groups of the party should be cautious of what they say or the advertorial, statements and ensure that they follow the dictates of the founding fathers of PDP.

“There is need to respect the sanctity of individual privacy and human dignity and avoid issues that are personal to the families of the candidates. There is the need to maintain decency, there is the need to ensure that campaigns are issues based. This is how we intend our campaigns to be. Our campaigns must be issues based.”

•Adapted from Saturday Sun.

Update news