2019: PDP southern leaders regroup, float consultative forum

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8 years ago

AHEAD of the 2019 general election, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in the Southern part of the Country on Wednesday met in Abuja for several hours and floated a consultative forum christened “PDP Southern Leaders Consultative Forum”.

The forum, according to Chief Tom Ikimi, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chieftain of the party whose resident was used for the meeting ,”will serve as a movement that will solidify the party in the region and make members to speak in one voice as the preparations for the 2019 general election are gathering momentum.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Ikimi said that the delegates to the meeting from the South-South, South-West and South East zones’ states from its fruitful deliberation agreed to form the forum to unite and boost he force of PDP in the zones ahead of the 2019 general elections

According to Ikimi, “we discussed all issues that were on the agenda of today pertaining to the inauguration of the PDP southern leaders consultative forum.

“I am pleased to inform you that a motion was moved for the formation of this forum an it was unanimously carried, so, PDP southern leaders consultative forum is now inaugurated

“We have also decided to establish a seven man committee that is going to work for the next two weeks to propose the structure of this forum.”

The committee according to him would be chaired by the former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.

Ikimi, who was a former chieftain and one of the founding fathers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose the same Abuja resident served as the secretariat for the amalgamation of various political parties to form the APC, earlier in his welcome address said that the meeting was not to divide the party or to form a forum against the north.

According to him, “as we speak, the northern leaders of the PDP are also meeting regularly to put their house in order. If we had worked together, we wouldn’t have lost the 2015 general elections.”

He explained that the meeting was in the best interest of the PDP, that the south was strong and ensure that decisions were being taken on democratic basis.

According to him, “this meeting is being called to re-launch, rebrand and a new direction particularly those of us from the southern states for the party ahead of the 2019 elections.

“I’m happy to inform you that it was in this same room that several political parties and interest gathered to form the APC and since that mission was successful, we pray this one will also succeed.

While stressing the need for the PDP leaders in the southern parts of Nigeria to be united and work together as a team, disclosed that it was not the time for power sharing in PDP, but a time for unity and brotherhood, particularly in the region.

“I think it has reached a stage now where this party should be bonding again, where those of us who are from the south must see ourselves as one, if we don’t unite and work together our ambitions will be an illusion.”

Ikimi urged the party leaders from the south-south, south-west and south-east zones to be cooperative saying those who forced to divide the region did so in their personal interest

“That is why I hope that today we will start a movement that will be different that our people will work together and we will be able to work together he declared”

Some of the PDP leaders in the meeting were Prince Dayo Adeyeye, PDP National Publicity Secretary; Sen Ben Obi, PDP National Secretary; Senators Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, Iyiola Omisore, Musiliu Obanikoro, Stella Omu, Chief Aduke Maina, former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha; Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, a former National Deputy chairman of the Party, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chief Jimi Agbaje and Prof(Mrs) Peller among others.