The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ambassador Desmond Akawor says the two members of the party who moved to the All Progressives Congress, APC did so because they lost their positions in the State Executive Council. Recall that Dr Reason Onyia, former Commissioner for Urban Development, from Ahoada West Local Government area and Charles Nworgu, also a former Commissioner for Agriculture, from Etche had over the weekend defected to the APC.
In his official reaction on Monday 17 May, 2021, Ambassador Akawor said the duo left the PDP because they lost their positions in the Cabinet of Governor Nyesom Wike. Ambassador Akawor who described their defection as inconsequential to the fortunes of the PDP, wished them well in their new expedition and expressed optimism that they would one day return back to the party like others.
“Am sure you .must have heard that we lost two of our members; Reason Onya, former Commissioner for Urban Development from Ahoada West and Charles Nworgu, former Commissioner for Agriculture from Etche at the weekend. They decided to pitch their tent with the All Progressives Congress, maybe because they lost their positions in the Cabinet. We wish them well because we know that at the appropriate time they will come back and say the same thing like others; that their eyes are now opened and that they can now see clearly”.
The PDP Chairman who described the state as a solid ground for the PDP said nobody can take the party for granted, but stressed the need for members of the party to prepare themselves for the task ahead. “Let us continue to have hope in the party because for some of us we know we are on the right track. It is difficult for certain things to happen in this state. We believe at the appropriate time we will confirm that where we are is a strong ground and all we need to do is to prepare ourselves”.
He announced that from this week the PDP would be receiving a number of ” High Profile Returnees” from the APC, particularly from Degema, Andoni and Gokana local government areas, noting that while the APC received those who lost their jobs in the PDP, strong and vibrant members of the APC are rejoining the PDP.
” As they received those who lost their jobs in PDP, we will receive strong ones from the APC to the PDP and one day my desire is to receive Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi to the PDP because he started from here and we believe one day he will return back to his home. That is my desire and it will happen one day and Rivers State PDP will be completely united again the way we used to be as one family”.
Ambassador Akawor also used the opportunity to inform that preparation for the National Convention coming up in November this year is already on, adding that the focus now is on mobilization at the zonal levels.
