Ahead of the Elective National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, slated for December 9 , this year,one of the contenders for the office of National Chairman of the Party, Dr Raymond Dokpesi on Wednesday made a stunning declaration as he endorsed another aspirant, Chief Bode George for the office, saying that “he is eminently qualified to lead the Party to win the Presidency in 2019.”
Dokpesi who made a surprise appearance at the venue of the commissioning of Chief George’s campaign office in Abuja, while speaking declared that the former Deputy National Chairman of the ruling party “has all the necessary credentials to administer the party and ultimately lead it to victory in the forthcoming General elections.
According to him,”let me congratulate Chief Bode George not only for his contributions to PDP but for his services to Nigeria as a Nation.
“He is our great leader, eminently qualified, very principled and blunt leader.
“He is a team player. This is a family contest. At the end of this convention, PDP must be the winner. We can’t win in 2019 without Chief Bode George and all the other aspirants.
“We must work together as a team, PDP will win 2019 presidency and we will shame our enemies. My presence here today is to give my full solidarity to chief Bode George , my appeal today is that we should continue to support Chief George, we should continue to Support the PDP.”
Speaking at the occasion, a one time Minister for Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese said the majority of the party chieftains from the South-West zone have since endorsed Chief George for the exalted office.
According to him,” In this race, there are contenders and pretenders. Among all the aspirants’ no one come near him in terms of experience. The PDP we have now isn’t the PDP of old
“To manage it at this crucial time you need Bode George. Party organization is very crucial and there is no other person who has that experience other than Bode George
“He is a man of credibility and PDP southwest can vouch for him. He is our man for the job. This isn’t the time for experimentation.”
In his remarks, ChiefGeorge said all hands must be on desk to reposition the party ahead of next general elections.
According to him,”The state of PDP is like a ship in distress. It isn’t an easy job. It needs a man who knows the written and unwritten laws of the party and can take the ship to safe harbour. With God’s backing, I will do my best.
“I want to appeal to our members that we shouldn’t blow our chances. It is God that anoints and whoever He has anointed will emerge. If He has anointed me nobody can shut the door.
“We have a serious task ahead. With calmness of mind, in-depth analyses and focus, we shall get there. But we must be careful as no one has a second chance to make first impression, our God is a God of second chances and this our second chance the God has given us as a Political Party, Nigerians are no fools, they have seen the other Party, the APC, and they know the best.
“The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is a congregation of. birds strange fellows, since they have won the elections, where are the members of their Board of Trustees, BOT? What are their achievements? And yet they are calling us names.
“The public perception of our convention will make a great impact in the minds of Nigerians as we prepare for 2019, my plea goes to our delegates and those that will be coming to the National Convention to be careful and not to give room for our enemies to distupt the Convention, we are going to make a carnival like one, there will be no crisis of whatsoever, it is a family affairs not a do or die one.”
and then