Political thugs numbering over 100, suspected to be hired by Delta state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, reportedly chased away members, elders, women, youths, leaders and supporters of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) on Tuesday from Grand Hotels Asaba, venue of the party’s South-South town hall meeting.
HardReporters gathered that the party members who were led by the party’s factional Deputy National chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh were expecting Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his entourage to arrive and commence the meeting when some hired thugs by the governor led by one Mr. Cassidy Iloba, Special Assistant to governor Okowa and the Special Assistant to the governor on Youths matter allegedly invaded the venue with dangerous weapons and chased away all party members, insisting that Sheriff and his faction will not hold any meeting in anywhere of the state capital.
Eye witness accounts, disclosed that the averted bloody clash attracted visitors and management of the hotel to the scene before operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agents came to rescue the already tensed up environment.
An impeccable source who confided in a correspondent of HardReporters said, if not the timely intervention of some security agents who averted what would have turned into a bloody battle, so many lives would have been lost saying that the thugs were battled ready to inflict wounds and kill anyone especially members of the Sheriff led faction of the PDP.
HardReporters however learnt that to avoid any flow of blood, the factional Deputy National chairman of the party, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh decided to relocate the venue of the South-South town hall meeting to the Royal Courtyard Hotels, Agbor, Ika south local government area of the state where the factional national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his entourage were given a rousing welcome.
Speaking at the meeting, the factional national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff condemned in its entirety the invasion of the venue for the South-South town hall meeting, describing the act as callous and impunity which has already eaten deep into the fabrics of the party.
Senator Sheriff while commending the party leaders, elders, women, men, youths and supporters for not yielding to the provocation by the hired thugs, told the mammoth crowd that he did not bargain to lead the party but was begged from the comfort of his house by some PDP Governors, Senators and other leaders of the party to served based on his tested and trusted pedigree.
The national chairman of the party said he was out to reposition PDP, return the party to the grassroots who are the original owners as the era of impunity was over in the party adding that he has the mandate of the people to lead the party. “I am not the kind of a person that can be pushed around by those who think they own the party. I want to assure you all that PDP will form national government in 2019, the people will be made to pick those that will fly the party’s flag at general elections and the era of imposition in the party is gone.
“Before now, our great party, the PDP had 29 Governors at a time but now has 16 Governors due to impunity, I will preside over the national convention of the party whenever it is held and want to encourage all party members and faithful to remain committed and steadfast.” Sheriff admonished.
On his part, the party’s factional Deputy National chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh added his voice to that of the national chairman of the party to condemned in a strong term the attack on the party by some hired political thugs at Grand Hotels, venue of the South-South town hall meeting before it was relocated. Dr. Ojougboh said that it’s only Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who can take the party to greater heights and urged all and sundry to give the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff led PDP executive which has been tested and trusted.
Dr. Ojougboh expressed his gratitude to party members for regrouping again in less that few hours in spite of the attacks.
Also addressing the gathering, a member of Board of Trustee, (BoT) of the party and wife of the former national chairman of the party, Mrs Marian Ali described the gathering as a celebration of the love the people have for the party national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff especially on a day that lovers’ day is widely celebrated across the globe.
Also speaking in the same vein, Delta state factional chairman of the party, Chief Austin Ogbaburhon stated that he has no doubt in his mind that the February 14, lovers’ day hosting of the town hall meeting in the state would ignite the hope of members of the party in the state adding that the party in the state will continue to remain loyal and resolute in their support for the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
