By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo state has called on the National leadership of the party to, as a Matter of urgency call a meeting of all the serving governors on the platform of the party with other relevant stakeholders with a view to working, close ranks and fashion out a way towards success in the forthcoming general election.
This position which was contained in a press release issued by Edo State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi in Benin city acknowledged that “the recent trip of five State Governors on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to London and their subsequent meetings with presidential candidates of two other parties,Mr Peter Obi, of the Labour Party (LP), and Sen.Ahmed Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as with former President chief Olusegun Obasanjo took the front pages of newspaper and the electronic media.
“The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who is the leader of the delegation, in a Media interview said that survival of the country was the main motive behind himself and some other governors’ meeting with presidential candidates of different parties in London recently.
“It was also reported that the highly respected five Governors and Leaders of the party led by His Excellency, Samuel Ortom of Benue state in the trip also held a reconciliation meeting with the presidential candidate of our highly esteem party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar .
According to the PDP state Chairman, “Edo state chapter of the peoples Democratic party is quite elated with the statement credited to Benue State Governor Samuel ortom that the meeting was for the good of the country, hence, might not have anything to do with supporting other parties’ candidates aspiration, we are however, worried that the meeting might be mistaken for support for other presidential candidates of other parties by the supporters of our party(PDP).
Stressing that “With barely few months to the 2023 general elections that would herald a new, progressive and functional government headed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), the need for the party to close ranks, irrespective of perceived differences should now be at the front burner.
” The Essence of the existence of any political structure or political party is to win elections, which is also the intention of our dear party.
However, “the current disposition of some of our respected leaders is giving room for concern among the members of the party who are awaiting political directives from their leaders, Dr Tony Aziegbemi said.
” Globally, there must be differences amongst members of political parties but not to the extent of working against the principles and interest of the party
The Edo State leadership of the party, however, “is using this medium to appeal to the concerned governors to restrain from such meetings especially at this critical moment where the burning issues is about mobilization of support for the party’s candidates for the 2023 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly elections.”
Moreover, “we are recommending that more meetings between the Governors on the party’s platform not restricted to the five Governors be convened to further strengthen the party ahead of the presidential election.
“The Nigerian people are eagerly waiting for the PDP to take over governance from the present administration which has put Nigeria in the present economic predicament, even as we assure Nigerians that our party(PDP) when voted into power in the elections, will not disappoint Nigerians as it will do more and better than it had done in it’s about 16 years in government.
Dr Tony Aziegbemi then assured that “there is no mincing words that Edo state’s votes for Atiku Abubakar are non negotiable. We are enjoining our supporters to be resolute in their resolve as the current issues affecting the party would be resolved in favour of the party in no distant time.”
