By Ikhili EBALU, Benin City
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo state has commended the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in which it laid to rest the long contestation between brothers, sisters and friends in the party which climaxed into a protracted litigation from the lower courts up to the Supreme Court, which should not have happened.
The intra party conflict that has rocked the Edo state Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has now been finally laid to rest with this supreme court judgement.
Edo state chairman, PDP, Dr Tony Aziegbemi in a chat with media men, immediately after the Supreme Court judgement said “the journey to the Supreme Court by brothers, sisters and friends of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State is not as a result of crisis but a quest by active interests to test the strength of law and our democracy”.
“The result of the judgement has now helped to grow our democracy and will subsequently become a reference as well as a guide to all political parties and politicians alike”.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi said “we have learnt our collective lessons and more propelled to work as a team and a strong party. I want to say categorically that there was never a crisis in the party but mere interpretation of certain modalities and procedures which has become clearer to all of us now.”
“I want to appreciate all members of the PDP Nationwide and most importantly in Edo state for their understanding during the period. I am calling on our members to close ranks. This call is now mandatory. The party belongs to all of us and we are all co-stakeholders in the success of the party.
“I call on all of us to queue behind our Leader, Governor Godwin Obaseki who has in just 2 years in the PDP has demonstrated capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I must mention some of the monumental projects:
1. The 95MW Ossiomo PPP project that is powering many government offices and homes
2. The 60,000 barrels per day modular refinery in Ologbo that is functioning
3. The Civil service reform adjudged to be the best in Nigeria
4. The reforms in the education sector through the Edo Best programme.
5. The increase in minimum wage-the only State in Nigeria that has increased minimum wage and the prompt payment of salaries unfailingly on the 26th of every month
6. Edo Tech Park.
7. The Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub
8. Efficient security architecture, which has made Edo State the only State in the country that is 100% covered in terms of security.
” Let us all now re-dedicate ourselves to the growth and victory of the party in the forthcoming elections. We have to work extra hard to deliver ALL our candidates. That is what we do in PDP.”
“Am aware that some of my brothers and sisters in the party who may have had divergent views to the issues may have also been critical to certain positions I may have taken in the past few months. To these set of people, I tender my unreserved apologies as I may have slightly injured them in the course of discharging my duties as the State Chairman.”
“In all, let us forge ahead together with confidence and deliver all our candidates on February 25th and 11th March 2023.That has now become a sacred duty. Our members and indeed Edolites expect nothing less from us.”