Ben Dunno, Warri
An initiative aimed at reconciling all aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta South Senatorial district aftermath the primary elections held about two months ago, was engineered yesterday by all stakeholders at a maiden meeting to reunite members before the forthcoming general elections.
The reconcilatory meeting held at the instance of the Delta South PDP Senatorial candidate, Hon. Micheal Diden, popularly known as ‘Ejele” at his residence, saw in attendance most candidates that won primaries to contest elective offices, Party Local Government Chairmen, and Senstorial district Chairman, Comrade Julius Tekeme (JP) among others.
In his welcome speech, the Convener, Hon Micheal Ejele, said having realized the division caused by the primary at the various level in the state and the desire to see the party come together as one ahead of the polls next year, he was moved to consult other stakeholders on the need to have a platform to reconcile all aggrieved parties to the ward level.
According to him; ” “I’m a PDP man. I’ve been in this state and this party right from inception. Delta State is a PDP state, the local government, Delta central, North is PDP and in all, Delta state is a PDP. It’s a matter of the political ownership of the Senatorial district that we are more concerned about at this stage”.
“Delta South senatorial district are the right people to say that PDP belongs to them. We have demonstrated it right from the beginning of PDP in Delta State.
“There was a particular time in the State, when the former Governor of this state. Chief James Onanefe Ibori made a statement that any local government that took first in any election matter it would rewarded with One million naira and we all know the value of One million naira at that time”.
“And the first year of Chief Onanefe Ibori, Delta South took first, the second time of Onanefe Ibori, Delta South took first, in Uduagha re-run, the opponent party was leading when they declared Delta North, central result, but when they announced Delta South result, the opponent went into hiding, and into their grave”.
“This same people that are here today have been the ones behind these achievements. But without fuel, there is no vehicle that can move, especially when the vehicle is fuel moving vehicle. Same thing goes for the diesel moving vehicle that can not move without diesel”.
“Therefore, I present myself today as the fuel or desel to the party in Delta South Senatorial district to engineer them to keep this first position because an aware that the Delta North and Delta central are not relenting in their quest to snatch the first position from the district in the forthcoming election.”
Also speaking, PDP Delta South Chairman, Hon. Julius Tekeme (JP), reiterated the need for all the aggrieved members to bury their hatchet and begin to work together for the success of the party from the ward, local government and to the state level, adding that the party as the capacity to carry everyone along when it retains the position of a ruling party in the state.
In his words; “The end of one election is the beginning of another election, PDP as one very organised and civilized political party went into their primary recently and it on record that the primary were conducted freely and peacefully and then adjudged to be free, fair and credible and all of you including the press were all aware”.
“The primaries that were conducted in Delta state under our party leader and the most performing governor of the state, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, witnesed a free, fair and transparent process and that is why the grievances are very minimal among the losers”
“However, we are not mindful that some persons may be aggrieved witj some issues before, during and after the primary, it is some of these issues that we have decided to look into at the various levels before we go into the general election next year”.
“We have called all the eleven (11) candidates vying for House of Assembly, the four (4) House of Reprecentatives candidates and the Senator to be from Delta South Senatorial District, to come together and see how we can collectively solve the issues that may have caused bad blood among our members across the district and ensure we stand united going to the general election.
End