Why PDP Should Treat South-South With Fairness, Justice Equity – Gov. Wike

The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has tasked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to treat the  South-South geopolitical zone  with fairness, justice and equity.

 

The governor noted that having consistently voted for the PDP since 1999, the party cannot at this crucial moment ignore the South-South’s constructions to its success.

 

According to a statement, by Kelvin Ebiri,Special Assistant Media to the Rivers State Governor,Wike gave the admonition during the meeting of PDP stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday.

 

“The South-South is the pillar of the PDP. If the South-South is the pillar of the PDP, they must be treated with fairness, justice and equity. It is not only when it comes to work, it is not only when it comes to giving votes, that we will all remember that the South-South is the pillar. When it also comes in terms of sharing, they should remember that this is the pillar of the party.”

 

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Governor Wike charged his colleagues, National Assembly members and other stakeholders from  the South-South zone to set aside their differences in the overall interest of the PDP.

 

“We have all said that Nigerians are waiting for PDP to takeover in 2023. That is true. But we cannot takeover if we are not united. We cannot takeover if we don’t work together.”

 

The Rivers state governor stressed that the only way PDP could wrest political power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government in 2023 is for it to remain united.

 

He said Nigerians are already disenchanted with the APC led Federal Government that has through its anti-people economic policies inflicted hardship  on the masses.

 

According to the governor, APC’s  poor governance is clearly  manifest in widespread poverty in Nigeria, insecurity, poor electricity supply, scarcity of petroleum products.

 

“It is for us to put our house together and make Nigerians proud.

Because if we don’t takeover in 2023, Nigerians will never forgive PDP. All the opportunity abounds and so we must take this opportunity and make Nigerians happy.”

 

The governor said PDP has realised its past  mistakes, and when given another  opportunity will not take Nigerians for granted as the ruling APC  is doing today.

 

“Now that Nigerians have opened the door for us, we must make Nigerians happy. This (APC) government is a government of excuses. Every morning, one excuse. Every afternoon, one excuse, and in the night, one excuse. I’ve never seen a party that makes promise without fulfilling the promise.”

 

Governor Wike said the Federal Government  declaration that it has deleted Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act is a smacks of corruption.

 

Present at the meeting were Governors, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Douye Diri (Bayelsa).

 

Other dignitaries in attendance included PDP national vice chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih;  Senator George Sekibo;  House of Reps Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu; former Deputy Speaker House of Reps, Austin Opara;  former governors of Cross River and Rivers states, Senator  Liyel Imoke and Sir Celestine Omehia.

 

Meanwhile, some Southwest leaders of the People’s Democratic Party says it is in support of the southern governor’s forum agreement that the next Nigerian President should come from the south.

The PDP stakeholders made this known through a communique read at the end of a meeting held by the Extended Zonal caucus of the party in Ibadan.

The communique which was read by the Southwest Vice Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Soji Adagunodo also reaffirmed the position of the leaders in the unity of Nigeria.

According to him, the Southwest Zone is in support of the Southern Governors’ Forum that the next President of the federal Republic of Nigeria should come from the south.

They also called for the for the distribution of Federal positions in all geopolitical zones with fairness and equity that will aide national cohesion.

In his remarks, the Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde called for unity amongst members of the party, saying the party needs to put aside it’s differences and give support to the Ekiti and Osun State gubernatorial candidates.

Present at the stakeholders meeting were the former governor of Ekiti state Ayodele Fayose, former Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, a Chieftain of the Party, Bode George and other big wigs of the party.

 

 

By Kachi Victor