POLITICS: Stakeholders Vow to Rescue PDP From Collapse in C 'River
Judex OKORO
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Cross River have vowed to rescue the party from collapse in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was
The unanimous agreement was reached at following the meeting of PDP stakeholders in Calabar on Thursday with the state chairman of the party, Mr Venatius Ikem, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, a former deputy governor, Efiok Cobham, in attendance.
The stakeholders, who noted the crisis in the party, said the crisis were not insurmountable, especially with the resolve by the stakeholders to tackle, adding that the PDP is well and still alive in Cross River despite these challenges.
In his submission, Prof. Sandy Onor noted that the worst is over for the party at the state and national level, adding that the PDP was not the only party with challenges.
He further noted that the crisis was good for the party, as it stood to make it stronger and more purposeful to winning future elections.
According to him, "I am happy that this meeting held and held successfully. This is a clear confirmation of the fact that PDP is still alive.
"It is true that our party has been hemorrhaging. We have been losing blood at the national and state levels. It is true.
"But if you interact with medical doctors, they will tell you that it is even good for you, from time to time, to go donate blood, and it leaves you healthier.
"When a woman is to go give birth,
she loses blood, but at the end of the day, the child comes, and when that child comes, there is a lot of joy and celebration for all men and women of good will.
"So, maybe that is exactly what we are experiencing today in PDP. We are coming out stronger in this," he explained.
On his part, Mr Venatius Ikem, state chairman of the party, encouraged members to look beyond the recent defection of their elected members and work to rebuild the party and reposition her for future elections.
He reminded them that the state All Progressives Congress (APC) was not as strong as the PDP was now when the immediate past governor, Prof. Ben Ayade defected and changed their situation.
"We will fill the vacancies created by defections as soon as we resolve the lingering crisis at the national level of the party.
"After all, nobody was elected as party executive of the PDP for any exceptional reason other than zoning, and we are capable of filling those positions with other more committed members of our party," he said.
