TheCable

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains the party to beat in the 2015 general election.

He described the opposition as noisemakers, saying the PDP was far ahead in terms of development.

Speaking at the banquet hall of the presidential villa during a ceremony where he dissolved the presidential declaration committee, Jonathan said he remained focused and committed to the progress of the country.

“I’m yet to see those who can beat PDP. They will continue to make the noise but they cannot beat us, because the gap between PDP and others is astronomical,” he said.

“The way we do things and the way they do things is very different; the way we talk and the way they talk is very different; the way we reason and the way they reason is very different.

“Our commitment to transforming this country and their thinking about Nigeria is very different. No matter the lies people tell, punctured stories and so on, we have been very committed.

He expressed appreciation to the committee for ensuring a hitch-free ceremony, calling on Nigerians to  support the party.

“I thank you all for all your support, even before the declaration, for me and the vice president and your support for government, because in the Nigerian political history this is one period that we really have a lot of opposition coming up every day,” he said.

“But for your support probably we couldn’t have achieved the little we have achieved. But and you keep supporting us, we remain grateful.

“I promise you my party men and women and indeed all Nigerians that with your support, collectively we must move this country to where we want it to be. Everyday, every week and every month we must add something; we must change and continue to change.”

Jonathan appealed to those seeking elective offices on the platform of  PDP to put the interest of the party above their ambition.

“For my other colleagues, the PDP aspirants for various levels of election, let me use this unique opportunity to plead with you that the world does not begin and end with the office you are looking for,” he said.

“Sometimes, you would be looking for an office, you may not be able to get it for one reason or the other. Let us say somebody blocked you, so be it, let somebody block you. But if God wants something better for you, even after that blocking, you will get something else.

“In my own life, the things I look for I hardly get. It’s what I don’t even think about that sometimes that I get.

“But collectively, first and foremost, let us unite the party, work together for our collective victory and I believe after that we will move forward.

“I plead with all of us that we should not play the do or die, except I get it, let the party sink.”