By Clifford Ndujihe & Ikenna Asomba

Elder statesman and a member of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, Chief Sonny Odogwu, wants all Delta State governorship aspirants on the banner of the PDP to dialogue and hammer out ways of developing the state.

This is one of the reasons he will be meeting with the cleared aspirants in Asaba on Friday, he told Vanguard in an interview, yesterday.

On why he wants to meet with the aspirants, he said: ‘’ I am a Nigerian, and a foremost political leader in Delta State. I am very much concerned with the turn of events in the country today. I have observed things from the pre-independence days, what I am seeing now is strange to me.

“What is actually strange is the way people behave and the way they take things. I have always thought that the younger generation that are now better exposed than our generation in the pre-colonial days, will do better than what I am seeing now. But it is not so.

‘’We all know the history of Delta State; it is a mini Nigeria. The state consists of people from different tribes, ethnic groups and different religions, although, I believe we are all from the same origin. I have for many years hoped that things will be better and I have prayed that things will be better than what we are seeing now. If there can be peace in Delta State, I believe other states can emulate us.

‘’So, The essence of meeting with the cleared governorship aspirants is to dialogue with them. Remember I’m a board of trustees member and a foundation member of the PDP. So, I must be considered as an elder statesman in Delta State and in the country and this is the right time for us to start.’’

On power tussle among the three senatorial zones and fear that the primaries may degenerate into mayhem if improperly conducted, he said: ‘’That is the reason for the dialogue and I believe dialogue will produce good results that will please all parties because people of integrity are coming to discuss.

“All the aspirants, as I see them, are all good and I believe that they are respected in the society. So, they will come, sit down as intellectuals to discuss among themselves.’’

Odogwu, publisher of defunct Post Express newspapers, tasked Deltans “to show good example as we approach the 2015 general polls.

‘’Delta is a mini Nigeria. If we can show good example, by showing brotherliness and love among ourselves, then, we have succeeded and every other thing will fall in place. That is what I expect. Brotherliness encompasses a lot of things, it embraces a lot of things. If we love ourselves and respect ourselves as brothers, things will go easily.

“I believe the dialogue will come with results for the PDP and of course, for the country because the PDP is the predominant party.”