Jonathan, PDP blast Maku at Lafia rally

Maku had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) following his defeat in the governorship primaries in Nasarawa, and said his decision was supported by the president.But speaking yesterday at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa state, Jonathan disowned his former minister. He said he had at no […]

Maku had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) following his defeat in the governorship primaries in Nasarawa, and said his decision was supported by the president.
But speaking yesterday at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa state, Jonathan disowned his former minister.

He said he had at no time encouraged Maku to defect from the PDP to another party, as doing so would be anti-party.
As the leader of the party, he said he would never flout its rules and regulations.
Also, Director-General of Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation, Senator Ahmadu Ali, criticised Maku for dumping the PDP for APGA.
Ali denied yesterday that the president ever asked anybody to join any party to canvass for him.
Accusing Maku of plotting to smear Jonathan’s image and portray him as a religious bigot, Ali said having used the PDP’s platform to rise to stardom, the former information minister, out of greed, jumped ship to join APGA.
Ali, who described Maku as an “ungrateful animal” said his ambition would never come to fruition because he lacks the needed integrity to realise such.
In the same vein, Senate President Senator David Mark said Maku lied for saying that he was planted in APGA to run for governorship.
The Senate president urged the APGA gubernatorial flag bearer to apologise for his action and retrace his steps.
“Don’t be deceived by any son of yours that says he has been put in another party to run for the governorship. Mr. President is PDP from top to bottom,” Mark said.
Maku canvass for Jonathan
However, Maku, who has travelled to Anambra state, APGA’s stronghold, to canvass for Jonathan, described the president as the best candidate for the February election.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at the governor’s lodge in Awka, Maku called on community leaders, traditional rulers, civil societies groups and youths in the country to rally round Jonathan in his bid for re-election.
He said Jonathan’s administration had transformed every sector of the economy, pointing out the president’s main challenger in the February 14 election, General Muhammadu Buhari has nothing good to offer.
He said President Jonathan should not be held responsible for the insecurity in the country; rather the governors should be in charge as chief executives of their various states.
He condemned the recent attack on Jonathan in Bauchi and Kastina states during his campaign to canvas for votes for re-election.
Maku said that he voluntarily resigned as minister and now running for governor in order to salvage his people from the shackles of domination.