by Adeola Balogun

President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to the mass exodus recently witnessed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by telling all defectors to return while they have the chance.

The president is said to have given the deadline yesterday during a sensitization rally held by the party at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the capital of Imo.

Jonathan is said to have stated that politicians who may want to return should do so soon or they would risk losing all their privileges adding that only the PDP could lead Nigeria to greatness.

The rally saw the party welcoming back  members such as the former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, Senator Chris Anyawu, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Chief Mike Ahamba, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief Lambert Iheanacho and Hon. Independence Ogunewe.

The Tribune reports:

Jonathan said if the former members who defected to other parties returned within the period, they would be on equal pedestal with existing members and would enjoy the same privileges, otherwise, they would have to be on the queue.

Jonathan, who was obviously impressed by the turnout of defectors in Imo State, assured that there would be no discrimination against them in the PDP.

He said: “The message today is very clear and I believe some of my good friends are not here. We have opened the door for a few days. You join us these few days, the position you occupy is the position any other person will occupy. No discrimination.

“But if you don’t come and come later, you will queue behind your ward’s assistant chairman.

“So, the time to join us is now so that there will be nothing like discrimination in anything. The party is open for everybody. Equal rights and justice is guaranteed. We are a party that believes in justice and so, we must also believe in equal rights.

The president, who insisted that the occasion was not a campaign rally, said there will be no democracy in Nigeria without the PDP and extolled its qualities, which he said anyone wishing to join a party must consider.

“There will no democracy without PDP and the reasons are obvious. In terms of ideology, since we started the PDP, the name has not changed, identity has not changed, the logo has not changed, the motto has not changed, our slogan has not changed.

“It shows that the party still believes in what they are because we believe we are doing the right thing and there is no need for mutation.”