The Concerned PDP League (CPDPL) has descended like a hail stone on the Governor of Delta state and Vice Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency Senator, Dr., Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, over his silence and slothfulness toward the call for the National Chairman, His Excellency Senator, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to resign.
The group evaporates its displeasure and anger via the Director of Media and Advocacy, Comrade Rashidat Abubakar while addressing reporters after its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, yesterday.
She said, “those in support of Ayu’s continues to stay in office are testing the patience of southern PDP members and that, they don’t wish the party to be victorious.”
“And that Okowa not joining the call for Ayu’s resignation or advising him to resign will amount to a second betrayal of the south and that’s to say, he can not protect the interest of the South the way Tambuwal protected the interest of the North at the expense of his ambition, so it will be worthless for Southern PDP members to cast any vote for the PDP because of Okowa. At least, that’s what is on the lips of southern PDP members.”
It is on record that, earlier this year, the Elder Statesman Pa Edwin Clark allegedly accused the Delta State Governor and PDP Vice Presidential Candidate of betraying the south by secretly working for Atiku after agreeing with his Southern colleagues that power should shift to the south. “This has eroded the confidence and trust southerners have in okowa, and that trust and confidence can only be restored if, he leaders the Ayu Must Go or Resign call.”
Ayu’s statement that “he has no plan to resign was vehemently condemned, and that did he had the plan to contest before he was chosen and given the position, she asked?”
Abubakar said, “The South generally is out of the Political equation of the PDP, and as a group that stands for truth we will always speak the truth not minding the region or who is involved.”
The group had reportedly demanded the resignation of the PDP’s National Chairman as a condition for them to campaign for Atiku. They will never support injustice against any region or person in the PDP that has invested so much in the party.
They argued that all the top positions in the party were being occupied by northerners; Ayu, who is from the North-Central must resign as a concession to the South.
Abubakar listed the positions the group considered the top and that are all occupied and proposed to be occupied by northerners;
1. Presidential Candidate – Adamawa – North East 2. National Chairman – Benue – North Central 3. Board of Trustees Chairman – Nasarawa – North Central 4. Board of Trustees Acting Secretary – Bauchi – North Central 5. Senate President Proposed – Sokoto – North West 6. Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF). Proposed – Kwara – North Central 7. PDP Governors Forum Chairman – Sokoto – North West.
She also listed the occupied and proposed position to the south as;
1. Vice Presidential Candidate – Delta – South South 2. National Secretary – Imo – South East 3. Director General of the Presidential Campaign Organisation Proposed – South 4. Speaker of the House of Representatives proposed – Delta – South-South.
She “described the VP and DG as “boy boy” Positions; there is no significant position for the south as the lopsidedness is too obvious. The north should keep the DG of the presidential campaign and let the south (South West) take the national chairman.
“I appeal to our most distinguished leader, Sen. D. B. Mark to either confirm or dismiss the rumoured Ayu’s purported resignation letter submitted to him before he was given the National Chairmanship position for him to continue to be in the good books of posterity.
She further said, “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state clearly here that, we stand by all the candidates of our party and the party also needs to make campaign easy for us in the south by asking Ayu to resign so the South-West can produce the National Chairman for win ability as they trumpeted during the zoning issue.
She however said that, Contrary to the views and perception of the worst National Publicity Secretary the party has ever produced, the call for Ayu’s resignation and removal enjoys the majority opinions of members. She commended the Former National Deputy Chairman, Chief Olaboda George, and Former Acting National Chairman, Hon. Baraje for speaking the truth on the call for Ayu’s resignation. And totally concur with Gov. Fintiri’s statement on Wike and commended him also for the truth spoken.
#SOROSOKE #AyuMustGo
