8th May, 2016
Five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South, met behind closed doors on Sunday in Asaba, Delta State, where they perfected strategies to wrestle power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State in the September 10 governorship election in the state.
Present at the meeting were Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and the host governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
According to Governor Okowa, top on the agenda of the closed door meeting was the downfall of the APC in Edo, the only state not controlled by the PDP in the region.
Okowa who addressed journalists at the end of the closed door meeting, said the forum was for South-South PDP governors, aimed at discussing issues affecting the nation in general and the party in particular.
“We have a very useful meeting and it is the first that we have had since we were sworn-in. We also discussed issues affecting the PDP in Edo State, one of our sister states. By the grace of God, we are putting our house in order to win the Edo election.
“You recall that they have election in September and we are trying to map out strategies to strengthen the party in that state. We would not let the cat out of the bag now because we are putting things in shape at the moment,” Okowa said.
He disclosed that the governors also brainstormed on how to make the forthcoming national convention in Port Harcourt a huge success, just as he urged party members and supporters to remain united in order to have a hitch free exercise.
“You will recall that our convention has been fixed for Port Harcourt on May 21, and we are already putting measures in place for that convention. The Chairman of the Committee is Governor Wike, and we call on our supporters and members of the party to desist from anything that would cause any form of crisis.
“We want to go as a united body to Port Harcourt because we stand by the decision to hold the convention at Port Harcourt. Plans have been put in place for a wonderful convention,” he added.
The governor further disclosed that the security situation in the country, particularly the activities of rampaging Fulani herdsmen, was one of the major issues discussed at the meeting, adding that the South-South PDP governors resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue.
“First is the issue of security and we decided that there will be the need for us in the South-South to have a meeting with Mr. President. Those are issues we are not going to let out until we see the President.”
Okowa also disclosed that the South-South PDP governors condemned in strong terms, last weekend attack on Chevron oil facilities at Abiteye, Delta State, by unknown persons suspected to be militants.
While describing the attack as unfortunate, he disclosed that plans were on to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.