BY TheCable
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday night realised a total of N21.27 billion from the fundraising dinner organised for President Goodluck Jonathan at the old banquet hall of the presidential villa.
Tunde Ayeni, chairman of the occasion, led the line of huge donations by announcing the sum of N2 billion – N1 billion from him and his partner, and another N1 billion from “friends” whom he did not name.
A sector-by-sector review of the donations shows that oil and gas executives gave N5 billion, while those in real estate and building donated N4 billion.
Those in transport and aviation donated N1 billion, food and agriculture N500 million; power N500 million and construction N310million.
A total of N250 million came from road construction, while Shelter Development Limited gave N250 million.
PDP governors announced a donation of N50 million each, amounting to N1.05 billion.
The president thanked all the donors, but spent more time urging aggrieved members of the party who lost at the primaries across the country not to defect to other parties but to support the winners in ensuring victory in 2015.
“I thank everyone who made donation tonight,” he said.
“We all appreciate that throughout the congresses where primary elections were conducted, there have been some outstanding issues. The party is working to resolve these issues. Definitely, in such situation, all may not be resolved to the satisfaction of everybody.
“But my plea to party members is to remain committed to the party; stay with the party. I know other parties are wooing some of you to contest elections on their platforms, but if you believe in democracy then you will contribute to strengthening it. And the only way you can strengthen democracy is for you to stay in your party.
“If there are some issues you feel are not too correct, it behoves on us to stay together and correct them. That is the only way we can grow democracy. If out of anger or frustration, you leave the party because you didn’t get what you wanted, then you are not contributing to the growth of democracy.”
Adamu Mu’azu, national chairman of PDP, also urged losing aspirants to accept their fate with equanimity and hope for better luck in 2018.
“Power and glory come from God and nobody else,” he said.
“Those who have won should involve everybody in their campaigns in order to make them family campaigns. For the losers, I pray for you that God will answer you at a later date.”
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