Uduaghan Admits Cracks In Delta PDP

The Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has admitted that acrimony within the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led to defections and anti-party activities prior to the general elections held in April this year.

Uduaghan disclosed this in Asaba, last Friday, when members of the PDP Truth and Reconciliation Committee visited him in his office.

He admitted that squabbles among members of the party in the state began during the run-up to the January 6, gubernatorial re-run polls and snowballed into a crisis before the last general elections.

The governor expressed delight at the inauguration of the Truth and Recconciliation committee, saying that he welcomes every process that would advance the course of peace in the party and in the state.

Uduaghan, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Festus Okubor, assured the committee of the state government’s support towards the success of its assignment.

He said that having survived the election battle, and even with the problems, “it is only wise and responsible that we identify the issues and address them. What level of anger will make us to scratch our faces so much that we will have scars on them? What level of anger will make us to urinate into our wells, from where we hope to drink?”, he asked.

The governor, appealed to every aggrieved member to sheath his sword and embrace peace. “Let us strive to have a party where brotherhood, love and conviviality exist so that we can continue to win elections together and maintain our hold on Delta”, he admonished.

Earlier, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the chairman of the committee, had told the governor that the committee’s assignment was to arrest PDP’s dwindling electoral fortunes in the state by evolving ways of bringing back all aggrieved members to the fold.

“PDP wants to return to its great winning times in the state and that we must do, because if we lose control of the state, then we, as leaders, would have failed. We don’t want what happened in the South West, where another political party swept the polls and took over, to happen in Delta”, he said.

Ojougboh said the committee had met with Chief Edwin Clark, and that Chief Clarke has given his blessing to the reconciliation effort.

He announced that the committee would begin public hearing of grievances from members in Delta North District, in Asaba, today September 5.

“Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be Delta Central’s turn. PDP members in the country are watching to see how we can surmount the problem in Delta”, he said.

He urged Gov. Uduaghan to support the peace process in the party, saying that if the party was at peace in the state, governance would be smooth.

“It is in the interest of all leaders of the party to ensure that PDP is at peace, because it is only then, that it can win elections”, the committee chairman stressed.