- Ask Okowa to reject report, probe Amori group
By Onome Oghenetega
Delta Central Political Elders and Leaders of Thought (DCPELT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have in a leaked confidential letter asked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to reject and investigate the DC-23 report on pruning of Delta Central PDP 2023 governorship aspirants.
The group in the confidential letter to the Governor said the DC-23 bowed to huge cash inducement to picked ‘undeserving and questionable characters’ to
deliberately exclude the “best of the lot” on the Party in a political ambush to serve selfish interests”
DC-23, it would be recalled, picked Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, former Principal Secretary to Late President Musa Yar’Adua, Olorogun David Edevbie and incumbent Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori.
The DCPELT critical dissent to the embattled DC-23 antics was signed by Dr. Adogbeji Ideh, Chief P.O. Akaighe and Chief Eddie Ono-Sorhue.
Text of the petition to Okowa read, “We write to you under confidential cover as DELTA CENTRAL POLITICAL ELDERS AND LEADERS OF THOUGHT mutually desirous of a smooth transition that will usher in your successor of Urhobo extraction, in line with what is commonly referred to as the Zoning Formula of the Ruling PDP in Delta State.
“We firmly believe that it is quite expedient that such a person should possess remarkable integrity, reasonable competence, requisite experience and general acceptance of the electorate that can consolidate on your laudable achievements of the SMART Agenda and unite the State.
“We wish to therefore dissociate ourselves from the subject, which has expectedly generated needless controversy, capable of creating further disaffection within the Party due to the manipulative selection process eventually deployed by the Screening Committee of the lobby group DC-23, deliberately designed to exclude the “best of the lot” and foist persons of questionnable character on the Party in a political ambush to serve selfish interests.
“We have indeed received several reports of mouthwatering monetary inducements of the Screening Committee members by the beneficiaries of this charade and wish to crave your indulgence to carry out an independent investigation to substantiate the veracity of this weighty allegations, in order to properly guide your anticipated action on this issue.
“We are strongly canvassing for further assessment of intending governorship aspirants on the basis of competence, experience, loyalty and vision of purpose, using recognised organs of the Party, which we also believe that the Final List would not ordinarily exclude the likes of Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye and OmizuEjaifeOdebala, going by their known antecedents, expressed intentions and ongoing consultation efforts.
“We are therefore soliciting your kind cooperation to disregard the outcome of the exercise conducted by the DC-23 lobby group in the true spirit of fairness by deploying available instruments of your office as the State Party Leader, towards ensuring the emergence of a flagbearer that meets the yearnings and aspirations of most political stakeholders in the current dispensation, all in a bid to guarantee victory for the Party at the general elections next year.
“We remain committed to your patriotic quest of finishing strong and bequeathing a lasting legacy to all Deltans.”
