- As ex-Minister’s Defection Unsettles Okowa, Delta PDP
Hours after renouncing his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and chieftain of the PDP, Elder Godsday Orubebe has felicitated with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent emergence as the presidential standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for 2023 polls.
Orubebe who officially dumped the PDP Monday, hailed Tinubu in a congratulory letter he personally addressed to the APC presidential candidate as he wished him victory in the 2023 presidential poll.
The former minister wrote “On behalf of myself, my family, and my political associates, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency on your emergence as the presidential candidate and the flagbearer of APC at the primaries which held on Wednesday 8 June, 2022. Your clear overwhelming victory is an indication of the love and trusts the rank and file of APC have in your ability and capabilities to lead them victory at the polls in 2023. I have no doubt that this confidence reposed in you is not misplaced. I wish you all the best at the polls sir.
“Your Excellency, kindly also extend my felicitations and appreciation to Mr. President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for his impartial and selfless role in your emergence as the party’s Presidential flagbearer. He not only allowed a free and fair elections at the primaries, he listened and heartened to the yearnings of Nigerians, that power should shift to the southern part of the country, as championed by almost, if not, all the 14 Northern Progressives Governors. The Governors’ love for Nigeria is exhibited by their show of commitment that power should shift to the South is highly commendable and went a long way to douse the rising tension occasioned by the possibility of having the two parties fielding Northern candidates. I salute them for their promotion of equity, fairness, justice and love for our dear country.
“I wish you Allah’s guidance, protection, wisdom and good health in the arduous campaign in the coming months, and pray that your ambition of becoming the next president of Nigeria come February, 2023, is realised.” The former minister stated.
Meanwhile, against the background of the trending report of his resignation from the PDP, Orubebe has proposed a world press conference for next weekend in Delta State.
Orubebe gave this indication on phone with The New Diplomat while reacting to inquiry on his next move and as to whether or not, he was under pressure from the Delta State Governor to change his mind.
It had been reported by some media platforms that since the former Minister’s resignation from the PDP was made public, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa has allegedly developed goose pimples following the development, adding that the governor has been making unsuccessful effort to reach Orubebe on phone to talk.
However, while speaking with The New Diplomat on phone, the former Minister cautioned against speculative reports flying around adding that he would address the press next weekend when he comes back home to Delta State.
“Yes, I issued the release on my resignation from the PDP but don’t believe in some of the speculations that are trending in the social media now.
“I would address the press on my next move next week when I come to Delta State”, Orubebe said.
It was gathered that shortly after Orubebe’s defection from the PDP, Okowa called for a meeting with the stakeholders of the party’s state chapter.
The stakeholders were said to have discussed ways of wooing the defecting former minister back to the party and save the party from further cracks.
The New Diplomat had reported on Monday that Orubebe in a letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Senator (Dr.) lyorchia Ayu, announced his decision to resign his membership of the party, hinging his decision on the opposition party’s unseriousness to reclaim power in 2023 general elections.
The Delta-born politician had expressed displeasure over the party’s refusal to zone the presidential ticket to the South.
“However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard for the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s Presidential flag bearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(0) of the party’s constitution,” he had said.
The defection came barely five days after Okowa was picked as a running mate to the PDP’s presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar. It also came on the heels of the rejection of Okowa as the PDP’s vice presidential candidate by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum.
An internal source close to Orubebe revealed that shortly after the former minister declared his intention to leave PDP his mobile phone started blowing up with calls from Okowa.
The source said Okowa made several futile efforts to reach out to Orubebe on phone and have a word with him, but the former minister refused to answer those calls.
Orubebe was said to be aggrieved that Okowa or the party in the state didn’t give him the necessary recognition.
“I was right there with Orubebe when all the calls from Okowa were coming in and Orubebe rebuffed all the calls. As the governor’s calls were coming in, Orubebe was asking; when last it was that Governor Okowa called him and whether it was now he (Okowa) knew someone like Orubebe existed in the PDP,” the source revealed.
The New Diplomat had reported on the leadership crisis rocking the Delta state chapter of the PDP as many had accused Okowa of making decisions that concern the party all by himself.
Now, the choice of Okowa as the running mate for a northern presidential candidate has been trailed by serious attacks, especially from governors and political stakeholders from the southern region of the country, including the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF, who have accused Okowa as a betrayer of the southern region cause to produce the next president of the country.
