Ahead of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has inaugurated a 17-man reconciliation and mobilisation committee, headed by the Chief Executive of Ray Power and AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi. The committee is aimed at strengthening the structure and unity of the party.
Chief Dokpesi told journalists at a news briefing at the party’s secretariat that among the objectives of the committee was the need to address perceived grievances among members of the party, following the outcome of the 2015 general elections.
Other members of the reconciliation and mobilization committee as announced by the State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, were Mr. Abass Braimah, Senator Odion Ugbesia, Senator Ehigie Uzamere, Chief Solomon Edebiri, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Mr. Matthew Uduoyekewmen and Mr. John Yakubu.
Dokpesi said that it was regrettable that members of PDP allowed the lack of internal democracy and personal interests to override the general good of the party, adding: “as a family, let us tell ourselves the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The PDP’s setback and current position status in the state is solely caused by PDP members.
“Our penchant for undermining well known democratic practices, lack of internal democracy, the crave for personal interests to override the general good of the party and the determined posturing of self before others, are, to mention a few, the root causes of our political dilemma in the state.”
He said that it was high time the members acted as democrats and in line with the rule of the PDP, adding that, “democrats are not socialists nor self-styled progressives, who to give the APC example, as more capitalist than capitalism.”
“This committee shall muster all of the energy, wisdom and sagacity to effect reconciliation amongst our warring and feuding members. We shall mobilise our people and members like never before giving assurances that ours is firmly a restoration of ‘the voice of the people being the voice of God.’ We must all have a shared common objective and focus.” [myad]