Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed gratitude to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for giving him the opportunity to fly the party’s ticket in the 2015 presidential election.

The PDP on Thursday adopted Jonathan as its consensus candidate for the election.

Addressing party members at a South-West Sensitisation Rally on Saturday in Lagos, Jonathan said the ticket was not his right, adding that the decision was made by the party.

Jonathan at the PDP rally in Lagos

“I also have the right of refusal and I thank the party for giving me the opportunity,” he said.

He said that Nigeria’s democracy was maturing, adding that no member of the PDP could dictate who became what in the party.

Jonathan lauded members of the party in the South-West for defying the rains to attend the rally.

He also commended them for remaining with the party despite not being in control of power in any state in the zone.

“I thank Ekiti people for returning the state to the PDP.

“There is no single PDP state in the South-West yet you remained committed.

“We thank you for that position and surely you will be rewarded. We are not here for campaign which is why there is no presentation of candidates,” he said.

Jonathan said the rally was held in the zone to strengthen the relationship among its members.

He said: “We are here to bring our members together but we will surely return for campaign. When you are in Lagos, you are addressing the whole country because all Nigerians are represented here.

“We continue to promise to transform Nigeria; make changes and never go back. We need all Nigerians to work with us. In the next few years unemployment will continue to drop.

“We are totally committed to changing all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The president promised he would ensure the establishment of Federal Universities in all states in the South-West.

He pledged to work with the National Assembly to actualise the recommendations of the National Conference.

Jonathan had earlier visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations over the death of its members in the guest house that collapsed on September 12.