…PARTY LEADERS WARNS AGAINST FACTIONALIZATION, UNHEALTHY RIVALRIES; NO MORE IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES.
Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq (EA Communications).
The enlarged meeting of Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has come and gone but its resolutions will further strengthen the party structures throughout the 25 local government areas in the state.
It was indeed a huge success judging by attendance, quality of party leaders and Chieftains, the colourful PDP women attires, youths superlative PDP songs rendition and the calculated dance steps of the state party leader and governor of Delta State, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
It all started with the arrival of the governor at 12 noon. The mammoth crowd roared “OKOWA AGAIN, OKOWA NO CHALLENGE, OKOWA THE PERFORMING GOVERNOR, OKOWA OUR CHOICE 2019.
The national anthem followed and opening prayer by party elder Chief Ogidi. Various speakers emphasized the urgent need for LGA party chairmen, their excos and party faithfuls to reach out for members who were lured away from PDP while the national leadership legal tussle lasted.
Party leader, Prof Sam Oyovbaire stressed the need for members to rekindle their loyalty to the party and appealed to them to immediately reach out for eligible voters in their respective communities as we gradually approach 2019 election year.
Immediate past governor of Delta State, His Excellency Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who was earlier welcomed on arrival with a standing ovation thanked God for the Supreme Court victory and urged members to abstain from partial loyalty to PDP, adding that one leg in PDP and another leg in APC will no longer be tolerated.
He said those in Okowa administration collaborating with members of the major opposition, the APC to betray government, should repent.
Uduaghan commended Okowa for his massive infrastructure development initiatives especially in roads construction, rehabilitaton and maintenance. He also conveyed the goodwill message of His Excellency the former governor of Delta State and ODIDIGBORIGBO OF AFRICA, Chief James Ibori, to the meeting. The mention of Ibori’s name rocked the air with shouts of joy and loyalty to the political leader of leaders.
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and one of the leading voice of Isoko Nation, Hon Leo Ogor berated the APC national government for taking Nigeria16 years backward. He blamed the acute economic recession on the Buhari administration for its anti-people socioeconomic policies which has inflicted unbearable hardship on Nigerians across the country.
The federal law maker urged party faithfuls to intensify mass mobilization of the electorates at the grassroots ahead of 2019 so as to vote out the APC government and its poverty programmes.
Distinguished Senator Mrs Stella Omu expressed happiness over the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee, describing it as a renewed hope for the advancement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
Omu commended Gov Okowa for appointing a reasonable number of women as cabinet members and aides at various levels; and urged the governor to consider the posibility of appointing more women because of their huge numbers in party politics in the state.
Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborivwori who led members of the state legislative arm of government to the PDP state enlarged meeting commended the loyalty of party members while the battle for the soul of PDP lasted in the Courts of Justice.
Mr Speaker said the new PDP is one which has no respect for political godfatherism and urged those indicating interest in future elections including the forthcoming local councils elections to commence adequate consultations and work very hard to emerge victorious at party primaries.
He said only popular candidates will emerge and assured aspirants in Okpe Constituency that primaries shall be free and fair without interference from Party leaders.
State Party Chairman, Olorogun (Barrister) Kingsley Esiso sang and danced to the admiration of party faithfuls.
He said the Supreme Court victory is a victory for all Nigerians and victory for democracy because, according to him, there was jubilation across the country immediately the news of the verdict hit the cyberspace and the mass media.
He expressed confidence in the re-branded Nigerian judiciary and commended my Lords the Justices of the Supreme Court for their courage, uprightness and for advancing the course of Justice and rule of law.
Esiso assured the meeting that the forthcoming local councils elections in the state shall produce only candidates who through hard work scaled through the hurdles of primaries. He warned that no aspirant should approach him or any party leader to influence his or her political ambition, adding that the era of candidate imposition and political godfartherism are gone for good and never to show up in the state party administration.
It was the turn of the state party leader, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to blend the various issues raised by other speakers.
The SMART GOVERNOR expressed deep joy and gratitude to God Almighty for the hard earned but sweet victory at the Supreme Court.
He noted with nostalgia the political drama that ensued between the two camps and dedicated the victory to God and the Nigerian people.
Gov Okowa re-echoed the earlier warning handed down by state party chairman, by saying that the days of candidate imposing are over in the state party structures. He urged party faithfuls, leaders and elders to work with aspirants of their choice from party ward levels, adding that it is only those who work very hard to emerge as the most popular candidates will fly the party flags in future elections including the forthcoming local councils elections in Delta State.
The prosperity governor again emphasized the need for political appointees to work closely with their LGA and Ward Chairmen to mobilize eligible voters for the party, adding that he has instructed the state party chairman to work out strigent modalities for the effective checking and monitoring the level of involvement of appointees in party affairs, meetings attendance, financial support at their various LGAs and wards, going forward.
The governor urged appointees to empower people in their localities, no matter how small, adding that a little drop of water makes an ocean. He recommended life sustaining empowerment programmes especially vocational training, skills acquisition sponsorships and some take off grants.
On the issue of voters registration, Gov Okowa commended some LGAs for number of voters registered so far in their jurisdiction; and at the same time expressed displeasure over the poor performance of some LGAs and urged them to do more in the ongoing voters registration excercise.
He cautioned political appointees showing interest in contesting for various elective offices in the forthcoming local councils elections and those strategizing towards 2019, to do so with mininum tenacity so as not to spend their official time in pursuing their ambition, adding that if found to be less productive at work places such appointees may be forced to resign and replaced.
The meeting came to a close with a superlative and mesmerizing victory dance led by His Excellency the Governor of Delta State. It was indeed a happy and joyous moment for PDP family in Delta State.
I was there and saw it all.
GOV OKOWA IS WORKING, DELTANS ARE VERY HAPPY.
OKOWA FOR YOU, OKOWA FOR ME, OKOWA FOR ALL DELTANS.
PDP …Power to the people.
