Rivers PDP Chair Renews Call For Peace, Warns Against Divisive Tendencies

The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, has again warned those trying to create confusion in the party to desist or face unpleasant action.
According to a press statement made available to newsmen by Paul Deeyah, media aide to the PDP state chairman, Hon. Aaron gave the advice on Monday during a meeting with Local Government Council Chairmen, Local Government Party Chairmen and State Executive Council members of the party at the state PDP Secretariat in Port Harcourt, in order not to exacerbate the political atmosphere in the state.
The Acting PDP State Chairman urged them to maintain neutrality in the quest to finding  amicable resolution of the impasse between the FCT Minister and the Governor.
He regretted that some people were trying to bring ethnicity and tribal sentiments into the imbroglio and maintained that it was a family matter.
He also expressed regret that some people were taking sides with either the Governor or the Minster, noting that such moves were not in the interest of unity of the party in the state.
He urged  Council Chairmen, Local Government party Chairmen and state party excos to articulate ways of bringing peace to the  party and not to balkanize it.
“For those of you that want to do eye service to balkanize the party, I will not allow it. This party will not scatter during my own time”, he warned.
Hon Aaron also cautioned against formation of support groups, saying those doing so want to distract the Governor from implementing his development plans for the state.
The State Acting PDP Chairman also advised Local Government Council Chairmen to warn their media aides, especially those on social media to stop posting all sorts of damaging materials against the FCT Minister and the Governor, stressing that their actions were escalating the situation.
He said: “Our supporters who come from the various LGAs are not helping matters. The kind of thing I see in the social media is something else. Some of these are social media people which you employed and are paying them. I cannot condone that under my leadership because they want to balkanize this party and I will not allow this to happen. So, please, warn them to stop”.
Hon. Aaron also formally inform them that he had taken over the affairs of the party following the resignation of the former State  Chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, solicited their support.
“I supported Ambassador Desmond Akawor. I supported the Exco. Now that I am here, I also need your support to enable this party forge ahead “, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the South South Zonal Treasurer of PDP, Mrs Evelyn Nweke, expressed sadness that members of the party in the state could no longer walk with their shoulders high due to the happenings in the party and enjoined party stalwarts to preach peace and unity of the party.
On his part, the Secretary of the party, Dr Benibo George, who called for absolute submission to party supremacy, said this would engender respect, love and unity in the party.
“The moment we are cohesive, we are together, nobody can bring us down. PDP will remain indivisible”, he said.
Dr George while calling for vigilance from all party members, directed LGA Party Chairmen to obtain clearance from the party leadership at the state level before carrying out any party activity, and thanked them for turning up for the meeting.
The Mayor of Port Harcourt City, Hon. Allwell Ihunda, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen, thanked Governor Siminialayi Fubara for making the state peaceful.
He congratulated Hon. Aaron on his appointment and pledged the support and loyalty of his colleagues to the acting state party chairman and members of the state executive council.