Vena, Jarigbe, Onor Preach Peace, Commitment At PDP Stakeholders' Meeting
Judex OKORO and Missang AKPET
The leadership of Cross River State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on members to remain peaceful and committed amid the ongoing move to reposition the parry.
The leadership including party chairman, Venatius Ikem, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, and Prof. Sandy Onor, who spoke at PDP stakeholders' meeting held at Metropolitan Hotels on Sunday in Calabar, said election has come and gone and now is the auspicious time for all to move forward and make the party great once again, adding that losing election is not a death warrant.
Speaking, the party chairman Venatius Ikem, said: "No doubt, the meeting is belated, but it is better late than none. After one year of losing election, we have decided to come together as one united family and move forward.
"We share the collective blame and we also share the collective challenge of how to move forward.
"Never had opposition parties in the history of Cross River won as many seats as we did in the last 2023 general election. We have learnt how to put our best foot forward. We need to review and overcome certain things.
"We shall continue to move around our senatorial districts and talk to each other. Though it is bad enough that people are leaving our party after the election, no regrets about that.
"I thank all of you for your personal sacrifice in attending this meeting. I thank the National Assembly members for supporting the stakeholders' meeting.
In a goodwill message, Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing North senatorial district, and the NASS caucus leader, said: "i appreciate all those of us who have remained in a party with no pecuniary benefits. It is not easy. We are standing for our future and our state and our children.
"Nobody imagined that PDP would be in opposition in Cross River state. Look at APC today, they had nothing and later won the election because we made a mistake. We should be steadfast and we know that they would also make mistakes and we would take over. All we need is to work harder and be committed."
Also speaking, Sen. Sandy Onor, said: "We stumbled and we shall rise again. PDP remains the hope for the state. Tomorrow is greater than yesterday. I can see the hope, excitement and zeal of party stakeholders to takeover and we shall take over again."
Present include present and former House of Reps Members, Peter Akpanke, Godwin Offiono, Eta Mbora,Peter Igbodo,Bassey Ewa, Minority Leader of Assembly, Former Deputy Governor, Effiok Cobham, former speaker and one time acting governor, Frank Adah, party chieftains including Chief Ogaban Ebok, former chairmen, Assembly Members, Mba Ukweni, SAN, and other critical stakeholders.
