The rally was attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Senate President, David Mark; and the state deputy governor, Murktar Shagari. Other dignitaries present include: Governors Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Abdul Kadir Kure (Niger) and Mahmuda Shinkafi (Zamfara), as well as other top government and party officials. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was however not present at the rally.
The President listed the numerous achievements of his administration and maintained that the PDP is the symbol of democracy in the country. He boastfully said that if Nigeria was practising a parliamentary system of government, he would have called for early elections to prove that PDP was still the party to beat in spite of the crisis that has led to many leaving the ruling party.
“I was telling some people when we were coming this morning (Saturday) and I saw the crowd, that if we were running a parliamentary system, where the prime minister can call for early elections, I would have called for early elections.
“Let us see where this noise is coming from, whether they are supported. Some people are afraid to go back and contest the seats because in a normal setting, if a parliamentarian leaves his seat and crosses to another party, the assumption is that you have consulted with your constituency and they agreed that you should cross over.
“Such a parliamentarian would want to call for early elections to show that he is going with his constituency, but in Nigeria, the story is different.”
Vice-President Sambo also spoke at the rally and commended Bafarawa for joining the PDP with his large followers. He also urged other political opponents to toe the line of the former governor.
“The umbrella will soon be filled up, those wishing to join should better do so on time,” the Vice President said.
In response, Bafarawa said he decided to join the PDP on the instruction of his people. He assured President Jonathan of the continuous support from the people of Sokoto State in the coming election.
“Mr. President, I don’t want to tell you too many stories. As far as Sokoto is concerned, you can go and sleep. You don’t have any problem. We have been winning the elections; we have been rigged out and manipulated out.
“Today, we are back to the mainstream of PDP; there is no other party that will get even a councillor seat in Sokoto, except PDP. This is a message I’m delivering on behalf of my people and the entire people of Sokoto State” he said.
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