- As Fintiri, Ugwuanyi head party’s convention, zoning committees
By Chuks Okocha
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambawul, yesterday, said governors elected on the platform of the party, had begun to work together to present a unified force in the 2023 general election.
This is as the 93rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, held Thursday, has appointed the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri and his Enugu State counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as chairmen of the party’s national convention expected to hold on October 30 and 31 and that of the committee to review the zoning of the offices ofthe National Working Committee (NWC).
The PDP NEC, which commended efforts of its National Working Committee (NWC), governors’ forum, Board of Trustees (BoT), National Assembly caucus and other stakeholders in resolving the challenges besetting the party, was however silent on the zoning of its presidential ticket.
Tambuwal, who spoke on the collective efforts of the party’s governors, disclosed that, “We have been meeting since 3pm – meeting for about 7hours. Very fruitful deliberation. You must have seen that we received leaders of our party in various other states, where we don’t have governors.
“We had robust discussion with them on how to move the party forward, bringing all the leaders together, not only working towards a best national convention, but even beyond that, so that we can continue to sustain the goodwill that PDP is enjoying in Nigeria.
“And send the right signal to Nigerians that we are truly prepared and working together as a family to ensure that, by the grace of God, come 2023, we present a very united force that will rescue Nigeria from the mis-governance of APC,” he stated.
However, addressing news men after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said, “NEC approved the composition of the National Convention Planning Committee as well as the Zoning Committee to zone National Working Committee offices.”
According to him, the members of the national convention planning committee were “Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the Governor of Adamawa State as Chairman, 2021 National Convention Organizing Committee.
“Senator Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State is Deputy Chairman of the committee, while Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State is to serve as Secretary.”
On zoning committee, Ologbondiyan said, “NEC approved Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State as Chairman of Zoning Committee. Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State is Deputy Chairman and Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, is secretary of the committee.”
NEC, he said, charged the committees to work hard to ensure the successful conduct of the national convention.
Ologbondiyan also disclosed that NEC received the report of the Senator David Mark committee, which was intervening in certain issues relating to the leadership challenges in the party.
“The David Mark committee assured that efforts are on to resolve all court”, Ologbondiyan said, adding that the NEC thanked Nigerians for the confidence they reposed in the PDP as well as the solidarity and support they have collectively shown the party at this trying time.
He hinted that another NEC would be convened to discuss the recommendation of the committee headed by the Enugu State governor.
On his part, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, urged the PDP to get ready for battles ahead, because according to him, “it is not yet uhuru”.
He said the charge beckoned on them all now than ever before, to be even more united in jettisoning all personal interests and assuming a more nationalistic approach in all their decisions and discourses so as to provide Nigerians with the much-needed platform to forcefully rally for the task ahead.
“We must bear in mind that our decisions and activities will not only affect the fate of our party but that of Nigerians in general in their quest to salvage our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We must, therefore, be guided by singular purpose of marching with our compatriots in their determined quest for a new beginning under the banner of the PDP.
“Leaders and elders of our party, I can assure you that Nigerians are solidly behind us. As long as we remain united and that our decisions reflect their aspiration for the new beginning, they are willing to follow us to the end, and that end is an inevitable victory, come 2023,” he charged the party.
Continuing, he noted that, “Our citizens have suffered the most unimaginable under the APC, a nightmarish pirate ship that is only out to pillage, plunder and suppress the people.
“Indeed, Nigerians cannot wait to see the APC out of office so that there can be an end to the mindless killings, terrorism, banditry, economic hardship, poverty and utter hopelessness that the APC has brought to our dear country. The only assurance of security and a return to life of unity, peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity is in returning the PDP to power, and Nigerians are determined to follow us to the end.
“In this regard, I charge every one of us to make sacrifices as we gear up towards the forthcoming national convention so that we will elect competent national officers, who will eventually lead us to victory,” Elumelu declared.
Meanwhile, the party has inaugurated the Anambra State governorship campaign committee with the Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu as its chairman. Senator Uche Ekwunife was appointed the Director General of the campaign.
