By John Oghojafor
As the PDP primary draws near, leaders, elders, women and youths in Ughelli South have declared and reinstated their resolve that Olorogun Hon. Taleb Tebite is their choice for the House of Assembly seat come 2019 even as they passed a vote of implicit confidence and affirmation for Governor Okowa as their choice of governor for 2019 and also an affirmation to vote overwhelmingly for the party in the forthcoming election.
In a well-attended meeting held at Okpare Olomu Friday, the people recalled that having pleaded with Hon. Tebite to contest and represent them in the House of Assembly come 2019, they have decided to stand by their choice, adding that nobody would be allowed to prevent him from participating in the primary and eventually winning the election.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of PDP members, leaders and elders at the Okpare Olomu town hall, Mr. Matthew Kwode, a leader of the party, recalled that there was no time in the history of PDP in the Ughelli South Constituency when aspirants were excluded from contesting primary election, adding that the people of Ughelli South PDP begged Hon. Taleb Tebite to come and contest and represent them even as he stressed that to the best of their knowledge Tebite has not stepped down for anybody nor can he be excluded from participating in the primary.
According to him, since it was the people of Ughelli South who unanimously sought and sent for him to contest and represent them in the House of Assembly, it is also the people of Ughelli South who can decide otherwise, adding that at the moment, the former lawmaker remains their choice.
He therefore informed that the purpose of the meeting was to send a loud and clear message, affirming Hon. Taleb Tebite as the choice of the people of Ughelli South in PDP for the Constituency in the 2019 election and to let him know that they remain committed to their call on him to enter race for him to represent them.
Responding briefly, Hon. Taleb Tebite thanked the people for organizing the meeting to remind him. He noted that actually, the people of Ughelli South invited him to enter the race so that he can represent them at the House of Assembly. According to him, he has accepted and assured that whatever they decide he will do.
He also recalled that the first time he contested in his first tenure, other persons contested along with him and even after he won, he was dragged to court, noting that it was by the power of God and the people of Ughelli South that made him to succeed.
“When I contested in my first tenure, there were other contestants. I was not alone and nobody was excluded. Even after winning, I was taken to court thereafter. You will recall that it was your people of Ughelli South that called on me to enter this race and I respected your call. Whatever you people of Ughelli South will tell me today, I will do. If you people ask me to withdraw, I will withdraw.
“I was in my house when you people came to plead with me to contest this election. Whatever you people will decide today, I will do. I leave everything to you.”
Shortly after Hon. Tebite’s address, a top PDP leader from Ughievwen kingdom, Olorogun Dr. E.K. Sajini moved a motion for the affirmation of Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for governor in 2019, Hon. Taleb Tebite as the choice of the people for the Ughelli South Constituency in the House of Assembly in 2019 and PDP as the only party to be voted for in the 2019 election.
The motion was seconded by Olorogun J.B. Ubogu from Olomu kingdom, Hon. John Ighokpaomo, Chief Mrs. Ruth Omajaja Odibo (former state woman leader) and Comrade Christian Emoke (JP) for the youths.
The affirmation motion as moved and seconded by the leaders from different zones of Ughelli South Local Government Area was put to a voice vote and there was an overwhelming ayes from the mammoth crowed of PDP supporters who attended the meeting.
Present at the ceremony were leaders, elders, women and youths in their hundreds from various wards of the Ughelli South Constituency.
