The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi has begun all necessary moves to win back its members who decamped to other parties in the heat of the crisis that threatened the umbrella party. The party said it was now stronger and alive.
One of the party leaders in the state, Senator Tunde Ogbeha who made the call while speaking on behalf of the leaders after a stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja said members who decamped had found themselves in the desert. Ogbeha noted that the party had emerged from the crisis stronger and was anxious to take the members back, saying, “Those who thought they were decamping to greener pastures have found themselves in the desert with nothing to eat.”
He also said the party was anxiously awaiting the return of decamped members, adding that it was resolved at the stakeholders’ meeting that the banana peels that fell the party at the last General Election must be avoided.
“PDP will not be seen to be acting with impunity again. PDP must embrace internal democracy for us to move forward. These things were discussed and In sha Allah, we will get there and that is what we are going to do.
“We must ensure that the will of the people prevails and that this party, PDP, will be given back to the people just as the slogan goes. The people will take back the party and they will decide who they want to represent them,” he added.
Ogbeha assured that the PDP would restore good governance in the state saying that the PDP had examined the condition of Kogi and discovered that it lack very trace of good governance.
“We discovered that the civil servants and pensioners are suffering in this state and we urge the governor to have that human milk of kindness and be compassion to pay workers because he cannot say he does not have money.”
Also speaking, a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Idris said the PDP had learnt lessons from the crisis and the party was now more conscious of the pitfalls, especially those that arose from lack of internal democracy.
“Of course, we have learnt our lessons and in fact, in a very hard way. It is good for us to learn it that way, anyway. Now, we will be more conscious of whatever we do to avoid recurrence. I pray we don’t allow the situation with our youths to deteriorate beyond this.
“I just want to tell you that with the present situation of youths, the nation is sitting on a time bomb waiting to explode. God forbid that it should be allowed to explode. So we must take care now by making them happy,” he added.
Speaking earlier with newsmen, Kola Ologbodiyan, a media consultant, said from the leaders’ deliberations, internal democracy would be held sacrosanct, adding that it was also agreed that positions of the state House of Assembly and LG chairmen be left for the youths.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by former governors of the party, present and past National Assembly and state Assembly PDP members, former political office holders and supporters.
Victoria Nnakiaike, Lokoja
