Harvest of decampees at Delta PDP rallies

THREE hours after the Federal High Court Asaba presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba dismissed the application for tenure completion by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was sworn in on January 10, 2011, following the re-run of the governorship election, he and his followers were in Obiaruku for the kick-off of the zonal campaign of the PDP for the April general elections.

If they were disappointed after the court had struck out the Governor’s application, the journey from Asaba and other parts of Delta North to the Obiaruku campaign ground must have shaken off their despondent mood.

The enthusiasm and energy the party supporters showed and the excitement Governor Uduaghan who arrived a bit late brought to the ground was a demonstration that they realised a lot of work is ahead of them instead of dwelling on the ruling of the court.

Following what happened earlier in the day, the flag-off which it was learnt originally would have been for merely giving out flags to other candidates of the PDP by the party chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi with the Governor attending to urge everyone to work hard to win, changed to become a full-fledged campaign for re-election. And so Governor Uduaghan as leader of the party has his record in office to defend as well as explain to the people his future plans.

And the choice of Obiaruku is important as well. Being headquarters of the Ukwani local government the PDP lost at the re-run election, it was considered critical by party chieftains that they should begin campaigns in an area that has become increasingly hostile to it.

It was against this background that party chieftains sought to rally faithful to believe in the party and to work for its victory in April.  The Director General of the PDP campaign council, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, used the opportunity to urge Delta North people to vote for PDP candidates to enable them enjoy more good motorable roads, improved micro-credit scheme, accessible and affordable health care scheme as well as potable water, among others.

He was not alone in reminding the party followers of the lot that has happened in the nearly four years of governance by the party led by Governor Uduaghan. Speech making under the carnival atmosphere with dancing, the sound of merry-making that filtered through the public address system, with the candidates jostling for attention, through the large display of their placards was expectedly a distraction. But the show must go on.

Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, a leading light of the PDP by virtue of the being the candidate for the Senate to represent the zone, came out forcefully to charge the party to close ranks and work for the victory of its candidates. Exuding confidence Okowa pledged his commitment to work for victory and turning to Governor Uduaghan assured him that the party will win convincingly in the 98 wards of the senatorial district.

Reminding the people of the rotational arrangement of the party, he enjoined the Anioma people to embrace this understanding and honour it such that by 2015 it will be their turn to produce the next governor of the state.

Amidst the din, Governor Uduaghan adopted a different approach of throwing barbs at the opposition, which he denounced as deceptive with no plans for the people of the state, as well as enumerating his own achievements and plans for the future.   He promised to further accelerate the infrastructural growth of the State and improve the living standard of the people.

He said he will construct more roads, tackle erosion problems and make Asaba one of the best state capitals in the country, something he reminded the gathering that he had begun to do since assuming office in 2007.
Speaking specifically to the people of Ukwani Local Government, he reminded them that their oil producing status came as a result of his interest and determination to end their neglect and that DESOPADEC will do more for the people of the local government.

He told the people not to waste their votes by supporting other parties without record of anything. He also dwelt on the criticism of his government, insisting that all those who compare his administration with others forget that he has been in power for only four years and not eight years. He mentioned particularly the Asaba International Airport. He said: “There is no delay in the construction of the Asaba Airport.

Airport construction sometimes takes up to seven years. The Asaba Airport is just three years, so I don’t see any delay”.

A major highlight of the campaign rally was the presentation of flags to the party’s candidates with a marching order to go and deliver victory to the party.

From Obiaruku, the PDP campaign moved to Isoko North, another local government that was lost at the re-run. The event at Isoko North turned out to be a major coup by Governor Uduaghan and the PDP as it recorded the first major harvest of decampees from other parties to it. In this case, over 5,000 DPP members in lsoko land led by a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Young Daniel Igbrude returned to the PDP fold in Delta State.

Announcing his return and that of the other DPP decampees to the PDP, Igbrude acknowledged that “conflict of interest” arising from the aspirations of members affected the fortunes of the PDP in the area during the re-run elections.

The former speaker assured that now that the leadership of the party has put its house in order, they are now reconciled with the party, promising that the PDP will not be discarded in the April elections.

He said: “PDP is our child, we will not throw it away, we pray that PDP will continue to grow. l hereby hand over lsoko men and women to Gov. Uduaghan and the PDP”.

Responding, Gov. Uduaghan thanked the former speaker and his family for the reception accorded him, adding that family members must learn to reconcile after disagreements within their fold.

Receiving the returning PDP members, Governor Uduaghan assured Isoko people of equitable distribution of appointments and projects across the state with a charge to vote massively for all PDP candidates in the forth- coming elections.

On the second day of zonal flag-offs of the PDP campaign at Ughelli in Delta central, the party reaped further harvest of former disaffected party chieftains returning with large followers. One of those to return to the party was Delta State secretary of the ACN, Barr. Jaro Egbo leading 3,000 members of the party back to his old party.

Mr. HUGO ODIOGOR is a staff of Vanguard Newspapers.