Says party internal crisis deep rooted, politically cancerous
*Absolves ex-gov Okowa of wrongdoing in over alleged N1.3trillion misappropriated saga
The ongoing internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the national level had been described as full blown political cancer, deep rooted and may grind the party to a halt before 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
Director General, Delta State Bureau for Communications and Orientation, Dr (Barr) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe , made the assertion during Wednesday’s edition of KAKAKI morning show of the Africa Independent Television, AIT, saying that PDP had lost her taste due to unreconcillable deep rooted political crisis anchored on highly sophisticated political intrigues.
He noted that in 2015, a group known as The New PDP join forces with certain high power political gladiators to wrestle power from the main PDP, and that a similar incident occured in 2019, and with another round of rancour in 2023 which obviously produced the political cancer that led to the slow but steady death of the party.
The Bureau Chief stated that the PDP governors tried their best to revive the party but to no avail, adding that the power tussle at the centre coupled with the refusal of PDP governors refusal to form coalition was the last straw that broke the camels back.
Oghenesivbe disclosed that the political exodus that took place in Delta on Monday, was as a result of the collective decisions taken by the State governor, Dr (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori and all the leaders and stakeholders across board, after due consultations from top to bottom, leading to the massive cross carpeting described by Vice President Kazim Shettima as a political tsunami of unimaginable magnitude like never before in the victory of Nigeria.
He stated that the defection has nothing to do with the alleged N1.3 trillion allegation contained a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pointing out that in criminal jurisdiction, a suspect or an accused person is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
Dr Oghenesivbe further asserted that anybody can be invited by the EFCC or the Police based on a written petition, and that in the instant case of former governor Okowa, he promptly and volunterily reported at the EFCC’s office upon return from his foreign trip, questioned and released, a procedure he described as “lawful, normal and appropriate” but does not in any way suggest that Senator Okowa was found guilty by the EFCC or any Court in Nigeria.
He explained that after interrogation, and where there are no credible evidence to prosecute the suspect, the lawful investigators abandons the petition, and cannot go ahead to issue a public statement to clear the suspect of any wrong doings, pointing out that such powers are strictly vested in the Courts, which is why the EFCC may never issue any public statement to clear any suspect that was found not to have soiled their hands after investigation.
Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe said governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori ,has proven again and again to be a good leader who has been unarguably recognized and appreciated nationally as the Best Governor of the Year, Best Governor in Infrastructure and Best Governor in Good Governance, adding that the defection reflects the wishes of the good people of Delta State, and the entire former PDP structure in Delta State.
He assured that Delta and Deltans are going to be the beneficiaries of the “Renewed Hope for MORE Agenda, saying that the combination of the inflow of infrastructure and socioeconomic development from the APC led federal government and the state governor would of a necessity enhance prosperity of the people and rapid development of the three senatorial districts beyond 2027.
“The multifaceted internal crisis in the PDP have become unbearable. It’s a deep rooted political cancer that would grind the party to haunt before 2027 general elections.
“The PDP house is collapsing rapidly and we do not want it to collapse on our heads because of the sever political consequences that may come with the huge fall.
“If PDP governors refused to form coalition and the power tussle at the national is foreseeably unreconcillable, what do you want us to do? We love peace in Delta, and our governor needs peace of mind to enable him deliver more dividends of democracy to our people.
“We are very happy that our party in the state collapsed into the APC which is now united, stronger and ready to win presidential, national Assembly, House of Assembly, governorship and other elections come 2027.
“Above all, Delta will now gain more from the APC led federal government as a result of the defection. We are no longer in opposition to the centre, the governor will now devote time that would have been allocated to resolving national party crisis to government business for the benefits of all Deltans,” Oghenesivbe said.
