By Tina Okoro
OBIARUKU/Nigeria: The recent meeting of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, without key leaders of the party at the home of the member representing the Ukwuani Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Alphonsus Ojo is causing disquiet in the party, and people from the constituency is kicking, and calling the action laughable and disrespect to the entire Ukwuani Local government Area.
The reason for this internal war, which had divided the party at the local government level into two camps, is not far fetched as it was reported that the meeting which was a supposed gathering of loyalists of the honourable member was termed constituency briefing.
According to the investigation of Ndokwa Reporters, while the non members of the PDP consider some of the issues, and the crack that it had generated in the party, as internal, they are wondering if the member is representing his party in the state House of Assembly or Ukwuani LGA.
For the party, the anger of the members is the selection of the people who attended, and the most annoying is the presence of the party LGA Chairman, Engr. Patrick Kaine, some of his executive members, the immediate chairman of the party in the area, Deacon Monday Ossai, the party’s Chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming January 6 LGA election, Chief Chukwudi Dafe and also the venue of the meeting.
A reliable source at the party EXCO said a meeting that was called after the event to discuss the victory of the party come January 6, 2018 could not hold because of the selective attendee at the constituency briefing.
While the war of word is going on among the party faithfuls, it was gathered that during the meeting, the legislator briefed the people how far he had represented them since he was returned to the house in 2015, and that the LGA still need his kind, but failed to openly declare his intention for the 2019 election, which was the expectation of the people at the meeting.
Those who picked hole in the meeting said that the gathering of the party members at the home of the honourable, without the entire leadership of the party, including those they look up to as leaders cannot be the gathering of the entire party. They named Dr. Mrs Esther Uduehi, the supposed leader of the party in the area, Sir Dele Omenogor, Chief Fidelis Tilije, Commissioner of Water Resources Development, Hon Ochor Chris Ochor, an Executive Director, DESOPADEC, Mr. Stanley Odali, Mrs Benedicta Ndudi Osakunih-Izuegbu, the immediate chairman of the LGA, Gen Mike Ndubuisi (RTD) and others cannot be a party gathering.
While the party is querying the action of the man that they sent to the state house of Assembly, the people of Ukwuani is berating the party for always taking them for a ride. While they agreed that the protest by some of the members on the selection of attendees is their own problem, they are angry that Hon Ojo is not representing the PDP in the Assembly, and their rights should be represented in the affairs of the honourable member.
A group of person in a popular drinking joint in Obiaruku, Express Garden, who were approached by this Reporter, said the action if true is laughable, as politicians after election do not realise that they now represent the people and not party.
They berated the party, and the member on the way they had been handling the affairs of the LGA.
“We are waiting for them in 2019, the LGA election will not be a fair one, but the general election is where we will tell them enough is enough”.
Meanwhile, a meeting by the party, called to discuss the issue on Friday, November 24, 2017 and plan ahead of the LGA election, ended sort of reconciliatory mood, many of issues affecting the party were not resolved, though the member denied the fact that he organised a constituency briefing.
