The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seems unabated as the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, was conspicuously absent at a meeting tagged: ‘South-South Zonal Meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
The meeting, which was a prelude to the flag-off of the PDP presidential campaign in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, however, had Governors Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Douye Diri, Bayelsa; and Godwin Obaseki, Edo; in attendance, where all contending factions and interests in the party were urged to unite.
The meeting also discussed other burning issues, including reviving the nation’s ailing economy
Emmanuel, who chairs the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, harped on the need for South-South leaders of the party to demonstrate unity of purpose and strength to make a difference in revamping the economy.
He said, “We are gathered here this evening so that we can have a common front and also negotiate strongly as a people, because if we go individually, we won’t be able to make an impact, but if we go as a group and a team, I want to believe that we will make a very strong impact.
“Let us be rest assured that in the next dispensation, this country will go back to PDP and on PDP this country must stand. I want to believe that once we return next year, we will take back the economy of Nigeria and once we strengthen the economy, hope will rise and things will fall back in pleasant places.”
The vice presidential candidate of the PDP, Governor Okowa, emphasised on the need for unity and cooperation of South-South governors and leaders; noting that his strength as a vice presidential candidate lies in their collective support to rescue Nigeria from its harsh economic crunch.
The Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign 2023, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said that with the flag-off of the presidential campaign in Uyo, the party is set for victory, adding that with the pedigree of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is experienced, he is most qualified for the plum job.
Obaseki and his counterpart from Bayelsa State, Diri, in their goodwill messages called for support and mobilization from ward and unit levels across the country, noting that with the strength of the PDP in the South-South region, the party is set to restore the country to its glory days.
The governorship candidate of PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, also in a goodwill message, expressed confidence in the party to deliver across the state its elective positions in the general elections next year.
Others PDP stakeholders, drawn from across the six geo-political zones who presented messages of goodwill included: included former Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Celestine Omehia of Rivers, Chief Lucky Igbinedion of Edo, as well as Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Gershom Bassey, Senator George Sekibo, and Senator Stella Omuh.
