The embattled former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana on Saturday disclosed that he is in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to win the forthcoming 2019 presidential election and not to be running mate to former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke.
Gana, at the unveiling of his campaign programme tagged ‘SWIFT’ said the leadership of SDP would not want to take the decision of him accepting to become running mate to Duke, if the party wants to win election.
The development is following the judgment of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT), high Court in Maitama a week ago declaring Jerry Gana, the winner of the presidential primary election of the SDP conducted on October 6 this year.
The party had declared a former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, winner of the election and its flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election.
Duke at the primary polled 812 votes, while Gana had 611.
Gana who was not satisfied with the outcome of the primary went to court seeking to be declared the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.
He promised to unify Nigeria and also obey the rule of law if he wins the presidential election in 2019.
His words: “I do not mind at all but, the party will definitely want a strategy, that is a winning strategy. Let us be very realistic the South South have just concluded a turn of the presidency during former President Goodluck Jonathan, if Nigerians are to be real they will know that it is too soon to have a presidential candidate running for an election from that zone.
“The other zones of Nigeria would also want to have the vote, so if you want to win election the party will not do that. But if they want to just play politics they would do that. I am not for that I am for winning election.”
Gana vowed that securing Nigeria and its people will be the primary responsibility of his administration if elected.
He said: “we have identified unresolved conflicts, realities of injustice, prebendalism, ethno-religious crises, kidnapping, militancy, banditry, armed criminality, defective state structure and failure of governance. These have resulted in the negative backlashes and security challenges in our nation. Accordingly, we shall strengthen security of life and property to facilitate a qualitative development of the nation; reconcile the Nigerian peoples for better harmony, understanding and unity; and restructure the Federation for prosperity, equity and progress.
“We cannot continue to live in denial that we are not a crisis-torn, conflict triggered and deeply divided people and expect the same people to build a progressive nation. The reality is that the country is at war with itself. We should take advantage of our heterogeneous nature, exploit the strength and synergy of our diversity to build a strong, united and progressive Nigeria. This is possible! It can be done! And we are determined to do it! Unfortunately, we have emphasized our differences and promoted the things that divide us, rather than those things that unite us. These matters have become sources of tension within and amongst the various peoples of Nigeria.”
