By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, the Akoko-Edo Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who had some of its major leaders assembled in Abuja for the PDP National Convention, used the opportunity to reconcile and close ranks.
This timely reconciliation was at the instance of the leadership of the soft-spoken but respected Rt. Hon. (Col.) Akogun Babatunde. Rtd. Present at the reconciliation meeting at the Abuja home of Rt. Hon.(Col.) Akogun were Engr. Fred Attah, the Akoko-Edo PDP National Leader; Hon. Oladele Bankole Balogun, one time Federal Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission and two time House of Representives candidate of PDP; Prince Kayode Ogunubi, Akoko-Edo PDP Chairman and Hon. Segun Saiki, Edo North PDP Senatorial Leader.
Relationships in Akoko-Edo PDP became frosty last year due to disagreements on style of leadership and attitudes of some followers which clamixed with the conduct of the PDP congresses. And this lingered on until recently when the respected leader, Rt. Hon. Akogun intervened and made sure that the major leaders sat face-to-face to iron out the lingering disagreements.
As expected, all the aforementioned leaders sat together and all contentious issues that brought the altercations were expressed and no effort was spared during the meeting to speak truth to the issues. This was necessary because when issues are laid bare, grievances, misconceptions, falsehoods, outright lies, insinuations…can be discarded as to forge a common front.
Engr. Fred Attah disclosed the outcome of the meeting to our Abuja correspondent after the much-awaited meeting had this to say. “The National Convention was an opportunity for us to meet here in Abuja under the leadership of our father, Rt. Hon. Akogun, specifically to sit as we used to do in the past, to talk as brothers. You know disagreements in any society is normal but the most important thing is not to make it have effect on the goals and aspirations of the society, and in this instance, Akoko-Edo PDP. We are one big family.”
In his part, Hon. Bankole Balogun said, “we are like brothers, we couldn’t have continued pretending there were no issues, there were, however, with the wisdom of our leader, Hon. Akogun, I am sure we have been able to amicably resolve them. The party will be stronger in Akoko-Edo after now with this reinforced bond.
“PDP in Akoko-Edo cannot afford to be divided. Whatever were the misgivings before had been addressed in this very crucial meeting called by our respected leader. 2023 is fast approaching and we must be in one accord as a lot of elections would need to be won in the LGA. As the chairman of the party, I am going to take back the message of reconciliation to every nook and cranny of the LGA, meet with stakeholders and aggrieved members so that the ideals of the reconciliation will be understood and adopted,” Hon. Kayode Ogunubi posited.
Hon. Saiki was not economical in talking about the gains and advantage of the reconciliation which he said was overdue. “I am overjoyed that we are able to close ranks today. I have always known that this day will come as so many of our members have been trying to make this happen for a while now. As you can see, we are brothers and political associates, I don’t see why our differences should linger too long. We cannot afford to be divided at a time when Nigerians look up to us to change this ‘miserable Change.’ It is only those who want to continue with this current hardship that would not embrace peace and reconciliation.”
The notable leaders all agreed to form a common alliance towards the 2023 elections, and that the LGA PDP cannot afford to be embroiled in a continued internal disagreement that could see some major stakeholders in the party joining the APC.
They agreed that the price of having a fragmented Akoko-Edo PDP would be too high to pay and that the party is greater than any one individual.
“We have to consolidate the party first before we can be talking about individual ambitions, We have to be careful not to use any form of altercation to play into the hands of the opposition party, APC, in the LGA and senatorial district, they must be expelled from the Senate and House of Representives because they are not covering the interest of the common people.That is why we are telling ourselves to put our differences aside and work for the good of the party. Divided soldiers cannot fight a war and hope to win.”