By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State rising from its Expanded Stakeholders Meeting in has called on its members to close ranks in unity and worked for the survival of the in the state.
The meeting was steered by a college of the party’s top leaders in attendance which consisted of State Chairman, Sir John Ngbede; Leader of the party in the state, immediate past Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom; Senate Minority Leader, Distinguished Senator Patrick Abba Moro; 2023 Governorship Candidate of the party, Engr. Titus Tyoapine Uba; Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Mrs. Margaret Icheen; Deputy Chairman of the party, Hon. Isaac Mffo and members of the State Working Committee, while former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam sent his apologies for being unavoidably absent due to pressing matters elsewhere.
In their separate addresses to the stakeholders, the party’s leaders emphasized the need for both its leadership and followership to close ranks and put behind the events of the recent past which resulted in its party’s poor showing at the 2023 elections.
His Excellency, Samuel Ortom who decried what he described as the failure of critical institutions of state such as the judiciary, the economy and security, enjoined the people to be vigilant and guard against acts that could aggravate already existing discontent among the populace owing to increasing manifestations of leadership failure at all levels.
Former Governor Ortom who stressed that he and other leaders of the Benue PDP have since met and accepted responsibility for the poor performance of the party at the last polls, charged the party’s faithful to more than ever remain united and focused on the task of being proactive and constructive opposition.
He also informed the stakeholders that in furtherance of efforts to reinvent and boost the bonds of unity and stronger focus for the party, it has been resolved that the substantive State Chairman, Sir John Ngbede, resumes active duties at the secretariat, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court judgement on the Governorship of the state.
Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, on his part, waned of a gradual sliding of the country into “a state of nature” with disregard for the rule of law on the ascendancy, particularly with confusing and unconvincing judgments emanating from the courts of law on election petitions.
Senator Moro lamented that these are about the most difficult of times being faced by Nigerians with the woes of insecurity and a crumbling economy pockmarked by a declining Naira which is about the weakest currency even in Africa.
He however, stated that as Leader of the opposition political bloc in the Senate, he will work to galvanise such opposition that will ensure things are put back on track.
State Chairman, Sir Ngbede, in his address, enjoined the party’s teeming members and supporters to keep faith with it and remain united, reminding them that PDP remains the party of choice for the people of Benue who are well aware of its unmatched track records of credible performance and working partnership with them since 1999.
Sir Ngbede who was Benue PDP’s 2023 Deputy Governorship Candidate, expressed resolve to continue to run the affairs of the party with utmost dedication to duty driven by the consciousness of its obligation to the people to keep the government of the day on its toes for the good people of the State.
On his part, Engr. Titus Uba charged the party’s faithful to remain positive on the chances of justice being done to his petition at the Supreme Court where he has gone challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld the election of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party and its followers for their support throughout the struggle at the law courts to reclaim the Governorship seat which he says rightly belongs to them.
Benue State House of Assembly Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Michael Audu, on his part thanked the party’s leaders for their untiring efforts to get it back on track after the unfortunate events of the 2023 elections, even as they urged the members to stay united as doing so alone will guarantee their chances of winning back power in the State.
