* Kachikwu, Ita, Emerhor, Enuha Attend Event To Woo Defectors To APC
* Okowa Must Give Account Of Over N20 Billion Paris Club Refund—Ojougboh
Palpable fear is said to have gripped governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s camp of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Delta state following Saturday defection of, Cairo Ojougboh, former National Deputy Chairman of the defunct Senator Ali Modu Sheriff PDP.
Mr. Ojougboh’s defection also saw, the state party chairman, Austin Ogbabunor, Gabriel Oyinbode, elder statesman, Godwin Ogbetua and about 14, 000 members dumping the party.
The defection which witness mammoth crowd at Agbor, headquarters of Ika South local government area of the state also collapsed the 25 local government executives of the party which saw all party members tearing into pieces their membership cards.
Addressing his fellow defectors, Mr. Ojougboh, who said they were over 14, 000 members of the PDP who defected, specifically vowed that the state governor, Mr. Okowa would not go unquestioned as he must be made to give account of over N20 billion so far received from the Paris Club Refund from Federal Government, adding that the nonstop corruption built in impunity, internal democracy were among the reasons for his defection.
“Okowa government is mass failure, for over two years, Okowa cannot pinpoint any star project in Delta state. Okowa where is over N20 billion you received from Paris Club Refund. We reject Okowa for second tenure” Ojougboh stated.
According Ojougboh, after the Supreme Court judgement, all efforts made by leaders of the party to bring everybody into one fold were refused by persons who have turned themselves to Alfa and Omega of the party, adding that emergence of Modu Sheriff would have brought about new PDP that would have been embraced by all. “What was offered us which they called amnesty was nothing but big insult when we are not criminals or militants.”
The former federal lawmaker also noted that some “Alfa and Omega” state governors, rejected the nomination of Raymond Dokpesi as chairman for reconciliation committee after the Supreme Court “Because these governors felt they instrumental financially to the court victory they financed the court victory. They also rejected Jerry Gana’s caretaker committee,
Governors Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike felt the party belong to them.”
Ojougboh said, among other things as well as the “Alfa and Omega” posture of some the governors and other leaders of the party, forced him and others to retrace their step and as progressive minds they felt they could no longer remain in the party, stressing let the conservative and corrupted minds can decide to remain in the party forever.
Speaking in the same vein, newly defected
former PDP state chairman, Austin Ogbabunor, stated that at the moment, they are opened for any party that come and woo them, enjoining members to carry home the gospel, saying “APC has indicated interest in us. You know how man will woo a woman, that is exactly how the APC has come to woo us. We shall negotiate with them. We can’t continue to remain in a party that lacks internal democracy and strives in impunity.”
In his brief speech, Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu who conveyed President Muhammadu Buhari’s good will message to the defectors, commended them for the bold step to retrace their steps. This is the beginning of new things to come to you people, this is the beginning of a new dawn in your lives.
Also in his short message to the defectors, South South,National Vice Chairman of APC, Hilary Ita, while bemoaning the bad state of infrastructure in the state, vowed that come 2019, APC shall take over Delta state and the incumbent governor, Okowa would have been sent packing. “I want to enjoin all and sundry to close ranks in the party and form a formidable force with one voice so that we can dislodge PDP in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.”
In his speech also, Delta state APC 2015 governorship candidate, Otega Emerhor, lamented the state of dilapidation of roads across the state and blamed governor Okowa for his failure to provide good governance to the people, saying come 2019, PDP will be no more in government house, Asaba.
For, Hyacinth Enuha, an APC leader in Delta state, Okowa is a disappointment and disgrace to good governance, vowing that Okowa shall not go unpunished as at the appropriate time he shall give account to the people.
Our correspondent who witnessed the defection reports that a cross session of defectors interviewed, likened their defection to the biblical movement of the Israelites to the promise land, saying they are well comfortable with APC and they are prepared to take over Delta state in 2019.