By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Chairman of Cross River State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barr Venatius Ikem, has asked party faithful not to be worried, as the party will soon bounce back, despite the lose it recoreded in the last presidential and governorship polls at the federal and state levels.
Ikem gave the assurrance in a statement titled: “Re-Cross River State PDP Stakeholders’ Meeting, issued yesterday in Càlabar at the end of a meeting convened by the party’s former governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor.
The party chairman stated that though the spirit is low, party men have to keep hope alive, be patient and resolute ahead of the coming elections.
Ikem said, “Indeed, we understand the situation and the low spirit after losing the 2023 election to the All Progressives Congress, APC, amid high hopes. Let us not despair, but keep hope alive that we shall still conquer.
“All we need in this nick of time is perseverance, commitment, patience, and accept the truth that we are now in full opposition and deal with it by being resolute in repositioning the party ahead of the local government and subsequent elections.
“I assure our leaders and teeming party members as well as supporters that PDP would certainly bounce back.”
On the stakeholders meeting, the state party chairman explained that it was convened at the instance of its former gubernatorial candidate, Professor Onor to brief some party men and get feedback.
He stressed that this explains why the party ‘s critical stakeholders, particularly, those outside the state capital couldn’t attend the meeting.
Ikem described the meeting as a welcome development, stressing that the management of the party will not cease to interact with stakeholders.
Insisting that it was the only way the party can bounce back to its feet, Ikem said, “Appropriately, I think it was a meeting of the Caterpillar Movement convened by our former governorship candidate in the last general elections, Prof. Sandy Onor, at least to brief some members about development in party and get feed back.
“Perhaps, that explains why many critical stakeholders were visibly absent from the meeting. I even understand that invitations were extended mostly to members within Calabar, because obviously notice was short. So, members from across the state couldn’t attend.
“Besides, we shall continue to interact with stakeholders with a view to repositioning the party as a viable opposition in the state. There is nothing wrong in the party.
“However, I wish to state that the party leadership is still in the process of consulting for an appropriate date to hold a caucus meeting of PDP, after which other meetings will follow as the case should be. In any case, any meeting at all is a welcome development.”
