2019: APC Vows To Unseat Okowa, As Heavyweights Meets In Ughelli

By Kenneth Orusi, The Nigerian Voice, Asaba

Ahead of the general elections in Delta State, political bigwigs from the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in a Peace Rally concluded that the party would wrestle powers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government under the Mr Ifeanyi Okowa.

The enlarged Peace Meeting was held Saturday at Evwreni, Ughelli South local government area of the state and country home of the 2015 governorship candidate of the party, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

In his welcoming speech, the party leader Olorogun Emerhor enjoined all and sundry to be united to fight against the Peoples Democratic Party, which he described as the only common enemy of APC, saying that time has come for the party to speak with one indivisible voice.

According to Emerhor, the unity meeting would be held across the three senatorial districts of the state “And they will know that we are now fully united as one big family. We must build on the existing unity and peace in the party”.

In his goodwill message, a leader of the party, Hyacinth Enumah told the mammoth crowd that there is no more division among the leaders of the party. Enumah while commending O’tega Emerhor and other leaders of the party for coming together to unity the party for the big task ahead, stated that never again will the party living in disunity.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu called for the total eradication of poverty among grassroot party members, adding that if the party must take over power from the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), led government in the state, the issues of empowerment of members of the party at the grassroot must be taken seriously adding that they will not take likely the issue of empowerment.

“For very APC members, empowerment is key. We will set up committees to bring empowerment to our people and alleviate the poverty among APC members. I am so happy that this is happening g today and unity and peace has returned to our party.” Kachikwu stated.

On his part, former speaker, Victor Ochei said without unity it will be impossible to win the war against common enemies saying that the only way for APC to win elections come 2019 is nothing but peace and unity.

Ochei who summarised his speech with a song of legendary Bob Marley tilted “Africa Unite” tasked all members of the party to remain resolute and be happy because unity and peace has finally come to dwell in the party, adding that the symbol of strength of the party is nothing but unity and peace.

The former speaker who was armed with a broom, symbol of the APC took time to go round the arena to exchange pleasantries with party members and admirers from the twenty-five council areas of the state while party members poured encomiums on him. The youths and the women were also not left out in the celebration of the former speaker in the arena.

Speaking in the same vein, another leader of the party, Cairo Ojougboh described the party as the best thing that has ever happened to the state and enjoined supporters and members of the party to have respect for the leaders and come together to fight back whenever any leader of the party is attacked especially on the social media saying “Injury to one is injury to all.”

Also speaking, another leader of the party and governorship hopeful, Pat Utomi, thanked and commended everyone especially the leaders who stood their grounds in making sure that unity and peace is restored, assuring that come 2019 the fortunes of Deltans will be changed for the better.

The meeting which was attended by leaders of the party including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, Cairo Ojougboh, Hyacinth Enumah, Pat Utomi, Ogaga Ifowodo, Jones Erue and Adolo Okotie-Eboh among others saw the leaders preaching peace and unity as they vowed to take over the government house from the incumbent governor, Okowa in 2019.

Meanwhile, security operatives attached to the Executive Director (Projects) of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Samuel Adjogbe had allegedly threatened journalitsts with guns.

It would be recalled that some of the leaders have earlier met at Ogwashi-Uku, at Chief Enumah’s residence to streamline on the way forward for the party.