BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has charged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state to shun ill feelings and massively support the Party’s presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa as well as other candidates in the 2023 general elections.
Making the plea on Saturday at the PDP Delta South Leadership meeting held at his residence in Warri, Delta State, Dr Uduaghan described the forum as a major “reconciliation meeting” noting that “Power belongs to God”.
The development has effectively laid to rest initial fears that being absent from the PDP’s campaign council inauguration in Asaba a few days back, former Governors James Ibori and Dr Uduaghan may not support the PDP governorship flag bearer in the state, Sheriff Oborevwori who defeated their preferred choice, David Edevbie, at the courts.
He further said at 
the meeting held to kick off the Ward-to-ward campaign for PDP candidates ahead of next year’s elections that; “At least, I have seen power before. It wasn’t by the power that I saw power”.
According to him, the meeting was reconciliatory in several ways and deploying pidgin to address his audience, the former Governor said; “I want to plead with us. Make we be like water. Water no get an enemy. When you quarrel, fight and God says this is what I want, let’s respect that position.”
He said the Deltans must be grateful to God for the privilege to have their own as running mate to Atiku Abubakar amid all odds, adding; “We have no option but to support him (Okowa). Nobody has held that position (Vice President) from our state.
“We must all line behind him and give him the maximum support. Ibori is our national leader. Virtually all of us are still members of that family. We must all come together and deliver our candidate. I am saying this with all seriousness and from the button of my heart.
“I am old enough in the politics of Delta State to assess people so I know those who are sincere and those who are not sincere. It will benefit us more to deliver our candidates than deliver a candidate of another party. I am saying this from experience and that’s what will happen.
“If you deliver a new candidate, he will satisfy his people first before you. We must thank God that we are privileged to have Okowa from our state on the presidential ticket and we have no option but to support that ticket because of him. We must all line behind him and give him our support.”
Further admitting that issues are bound to rise in any family but the members cannot resort to killing each other, Dr Uduaghan said; “Whatever is in your hearts, please give a space – a space that gives support to our presidential and vice presidential candidates.”
Also drumming up support for the governorship candidate of the party, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as well as the Delta South Senatorial candidate, Michael Diden alias Ejele, the former governor urged those not ready to work for the success of PDP candidates to honourably step aside from the party.
He said while it would be possible for the people to hold all PDP candidates accountable when they are supported and delivered, such cannot be said of candidates in other parties who would be difficult to approach or be accountable.
Also urging PDP members and supporters to shun “unnecessary rumours” that could further divide the party, the former governor now is the time to focus on the various units with the commitment to deliver all the PDP candidates in next year’s polls.
In his remarks earlier, the PDP Chapter Chairman in Delta South Senatorial District, Hon. Julius Takeme, expressed the party’s readiness to fully embark on electioneering campaigns beginning on Monday, November 14, 2022.
Charging party members in all the 87 wards in the district to brace up for the challenges ahead, Hon Takeme praised Dr Uduaghan for his fatherly role in the party, noting that his leadership would surely propel the PDP to electoral victory come 2023.
On his part, the Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organization in Delta State, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon said party members must cooperate and unite to win the forthcoming elections.
An excited Solomon, who pleaded with the former governor to forgive party members who wrongly accused him of betrayal, said; “Your Excellency, please, forgive us our sins. Many of us have sinned against you”, adding that with his guidance victory was sure in 2023.
