…As “Hurricane” Sweeps Oyigbo Legislator
The State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Desmond Akawor has stated that his executive has embarked on a silent revolution to woo back all its lost members into the fold.
He stated this over the weekend at the Council Secretariat of the PDP at Mirinwanyi – Asa, Oyigbo LGA of Rivers State.
According to him, “the party will not relent until all it lost members are recovered and given their rightful place, adding that no returnee member of the party will be marginalized or discriminated against.
“The umbrella symbol of our party is large enough to accommodate everybody,” he declared.
The event was the official defection of the Oyigbo Representatives in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Promise Chibuzor Nwankwo and his supporters in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) numbering over 10,000.
Amb. Akawor said the Local Government Council has been disconnect from the state main politics as they were forced into minority by some evil forces, adding that it is clear to everybody that Oyigbo is a PDP local government any day despite what happened in the last general election.
He expressed joy on the crossing over of Hon. Nwankwo, saying that it is now that their voice would be heard in the Hallowed chambers as they have been fully reintegrated. The state party chairman appealed to the Oyigbo people to exercise more patience on their situation, especially on the reconstruction of their bad roads, assuring that sooner or later, the bad roads in Oyigbo will be rehabilitated as Governor Nyesom Wike is a promise keeper, adding that the same way he fixed Mbano camp to Iriebe and Oyigbo – Agbonchia Roads, is how he will reconstruct the Afam junction to Obete Road, which he noted has become a nightmare.
He made it clear that the essence of politics is for one to attract dividends of democracy to his/her people, and that it is now that these and many more good things will get to Oyigbo as their Legislator has joined the PDP, making the hallowed chambers 100% PDP House with its attendant benefits.
In his own speech, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Edison Ehie who described the state chairman of the PDP as a dynamic and revolutionary party chairman lauded Gov Nyesom Ezenwo Wike whom he considered as number one performing governor in the country.
According to him, “the state has been transformed into a huge construction site, adding other political parties don’t have a choice than to collapse into the PDP to move the state forward.” He thanked Engr. Akawor for his magnanimity to open his doors for many PDP returnees back to the party. He also thanked Hon Promise Nwankwo for abandoning darkness for light, assuring that they will give him all the needed support to increase his capacity to benefit the people of Oyigbo more.
The Oyigbo Council chairman, Hon. Prince Gerald Oforji (JP) in his remarks thanked God for the return of Hon. Promise Nwankwo and his supporters saying that the more, the merrier.
He said that power comes from God and that it was clear that PDP won that last election, but that God’s will must be accepted as politics is not a do-or-die affairs.
Oforji advised the Legislator not to go into factional politics as he returns but join the main stream revolutionary party to move Oyigbo forward, assuring him of all his rights and privileges.
On his part, the Oyigbo Council party chairman, Hon. Ibe Alex in his remarks welcomed the Legislator, Hon Nwankwo back into the fold, describing the day as a great one when they recover their illustrious son. He recalled how Nwankwo tried to contest the election through the PDP and APC but failed before fate pushed him to the SDP where he realized his ambition.
The chairman assured him that his emergence was not ordinary but carries the finger of God.
In his response, Hon Nwankwo, said he sincerely appreciate everybody who made his defection back to his home party possible, saying that he was indeed alien in his old party, SDP.
He also appreciated his supporters who fought gallantly to support his ambition with nothing.
“Out of nothing, they mustered strength to fight for the realization of my political ambition, I am grateful,” he said.
The Legislator promised to carry everyone along as he returns back to base. Hon Nwankwo declared that he will double his effort to work for the generality of Oyigbo people without reservation and appealed for the support and cooperation of all.
In another development, there is tension in Oyigbo urban especially at Ward 8 area comprising Mbano Camp Junction, Timber and Satellite village.
We learnt that already three persons are feared dead while the fourth person simply known as Okey was fatally wounded from a gunshot and is receiving medical attention at an unknown clinic.
According to the information, an Igbo boy who sells fuel at the Mbano camp junction was mysteriously killed over an argument and thrown into a drum, a development that sparked off a reprisal attack and counter attacks.
An Hausa cobbler in the same area was among those killed and set ablaze by the angry mob.
Though the security operatives have been mobilized to the area to maintain peace many residents have deserted their homes.
Calls placed on the council chairman, Hon Gerald Oforji’s mobile phones was not responded to. In his reaction, the PDP Ward 8 Chairman, Comrade Felix Ibekwe Nwogu condemned the incidence in its totality. While appealing for peaceful co-existence in Oyigbo, he warned that the indigenous good people of Oyigbo, though very hospitable and receptive to stranger elements would not hesitate to flush the trouble makers out from their midst.
He used the opportunity to console with victims of the unnecessary fracas and urged the security agents to launch a thorough investigation into the matter with a view to ascertaining those behind the dastardly act.
