Top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Owerri zone met in Owerri on Sunday where they pledged to eschew bickering and disunity to achieve the purpose of securing the governorship of Imo State in 2019.
They also resolved to bury their differences and unite for the purpose of taking over power from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. And to demonstrate its resolve, the party in the zone raised millions of naria among stakeholders to back up the quest of the party to realize its mission.
Among those present at the meeting were Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Senator representing Owerri zone, Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon.Emeka Ihedioha, Former PDP National Woman Leader, Dr(Mrs) Kema Chikwe.
Federal Lawmakers such as Member Representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Hon.Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Member Representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Hon Bede Eke and Member Representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Hon.Henry Nwawuba, also attended.
Other party chieftains present include PDP Imo State House of Assembly members; Hon. Mike Iheaneatu (Aboh Mbaise), Hon Bruno Ukoha( Ahiazu Mbaise) and Minority Leader in the House, Hon. Ken Agbim. Others are former governorship aspirant, Dr. Jude Njoku, former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Imo State, Chukwuma Ekomaru (SAN), Chief Josiah Odunna, Barr. Willie Amadi, Chief Paul Nnawuchi, Former Owerri Zone PDP leader, Gen Roland Ogbonna (retd), State Party Secretary, Hon. Ray Emeana, Woman Leader, Mrs Maria Mbakwe, Ex Officio Member, Hon Ebere Chukwuemeka and many others.
* Cross Section Of Owerri Zone PDP Leaders At The Party Stakeholders Meeting In Owerri…1/10/2017
Also in attendance were Owerri Zone PDP Executives and the Party’s Local Government Chairmen in the nine local governments that make up Owerri zone.
The convener of the summit was the Owerri Zone PDP Chapter led by its chairman,Bon Unachukwu.
Speaking at the event, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the time has come for sober reflection of Owerri Zone PDP members. He sued for unity among party stakeholders. He also urged them not to be deterred by marching on with the quest for Owerri zone produce the next governor of Imo State in 2019.
He said “This is the time for us in Owerri zone PDP to unite. We must carry on. Buhari sought for the Presidency four times and won at the last effort. We in Owerri zone must not give up”
“There is no more division in Imo PDP. There is unity now. Every willing APC member who wants to join the party should be embraced and encouraged to join the PDP” he said
In his remarks, Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Emeka Ihedioha called on party members to forgive one another and forge ahead
“On my part, I appeal for forgiveness.From those whom I have wronged and those who have wronged me”
“I have not dropped my aspiration but we must kick against back- biting.Gossip must be over in the party”
“Stop coming to my house to gossip about others in the party. We must stop this bickering. That period is over. We must must build the party and Owerri Zone PDP must show hunger for power”
” There is need for party members to work together. Party leaders must work together too. PDP members must stay together to remove Rochas from power” he said
Ahaejiagamba Ndi Igbo and PDP BOT member, Chief (Engr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu expressed regret that in the last 16 years, Owerri zone has not produced Imo State governor.
He said “Owerri zone has been impoverished but this time around, the PDP is very much determined to succeed. There is need for a crusade among the party members and I can assure you of our determination, we will win”
“Credentials of governorship aspirants must be assessed. We have not won yet and PDP Primaries will no longer a bazaar.
The PDP leader also took a swipe at the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC
“APC is a group of people with no ideology. APC have never held a convention, no BOT meeting since it came to power. Each of the Legacy Political parties in the APC are still functioning”
“I want to assure all of us that there will be mass movement soon before the PDP National Convention”
“Owerri Zone PDP need action to win the governorship of Imo State and we are going to address issues that militated against Owerri zone from producing the governor of Imo State in the past to avoid repeat of the past mistakes” he said
Former National Woman Leader of the PDP, Dr( Mrs) Kema Chikwe called for unity and understanding among party members in the zone. He said most times, PDP’s mistakes are reaped by other political parties, urging party members not to allow a repeat of such mistake in the coming dispensation.
A former member of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Oliver Enwerenem advocated the need for Owerri PDP to go to the Imo State governorship contest with one governorship candidate.
In his opening speech, Chairman, Owerri Zone PDP, Sir Bon Unachukwu stressed on the need for the party in Owerri Zone to unite and do away with clannish considerations that has hampered the effort of the zone in the past.
“We must eschew all those vices which tend to divide us and embrace those that unite us. The current individual approach to our personal aspirations are bound to fail if we are not united and focused. To achieve this, we need to build a strong party which is the vehicle that will drive us to our desired destination. We must come out boldly as one united Owerri zone to face the rest of Imo State in our quest”
He spoke on the need for an end to bigotry and suspicion among ethnic blocs in Owerri Zone, saying “the moment we overcome this wrong perception of ourselves, people from other zones will desist from sponsoring pseudo aspirants from Owerri zone to destabilize the genuine intentions of our people”
Unachukwu assured that at the appriorate time, the zonal executive of PDP will ensure sanity in the party.