Survival of PDP Only Way Forward for Nigeria – Ikimi; Believes All Would Be Well with the Party Despite Its Present Travails

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The only way forward for Nigeria now is the survival of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) according to a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a national leader of the troubled party, Tom Ikimi. He said this amid fears of the country sliding into a one-party dictatorship.

Responding to the gale of defections that had in recent times hit the once ruling party in Nigeria, particularly with its calamitous decimation in Delta State following the collapse of the entire political structure into the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Wednesday, Chief Ikimi lamented that despite the grave difficulties that the country faced today under the APC, “it seems that all we are now presented with are just the desperate efforts to destroy the PDP so that the country may become a one-party dictatorship”.

Speaking at the Edo State stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Benin City, Chief Ikimi noted that “The APC’s attack on the South-South region has been intense recently. I have seen in the press, reports of the defection of our Delta State Governor to APC and this also included the defection of his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to the APC as well. | am aware of the route we took in the PDP to give Governor Sheriff Oborevwori the ticket of our party as well as to give his predecessor the Vice-Presidential ticket.

“All that I can say now is that it is indeed very early to express too much regrets. It is not out of place to say that the people of Delta have not yet spoken, recalling that in 2023, PDP lost Delta massively to Peter Obi of Labour Party, a candidate with no governor at that time”.

Lamenting that some persons with personal ambition had committed themselves to destroying the unity and strength of the PDP which hitherto controlled six states in the South-South region, including Edo, for a mess of portage, the octogenarian politician emphasised that “This stakeholders’ meeting is very important indeed. It conveys a very clear message to the country that the PDP in Edo State is strong and vibrant”.

Assessing the APC from its formation in 2014, the ex-minister returned the verdict that the party had deviated from its original purpose and ideology.
He said “My assessment is that the APC was hijacked by some forces and converted into a structure that was not of the best interest of our nation. We are all witnesses of their operations so far and indeed the disaster that we are going through”.

He further noted that at formation, the APC was expected to act as alternative to the PDP that held the reins of power at the time, like the United States and Britain with strong two-party system, but “That party is now a collection of people possessing only personal interests”.
Chief Ikimi said with the successful and appropriate adjustments at the highest leadership level, which was currently ongoing, he believed all would be well with the PDP and the country in a not-too-distant future.

He however opined that no organisation, political party or country, can progress smoothly without obeying established rules and regulations.
In his comment, a former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, said “there are only two political parties in the country, the PDP and the rest of them”.
Igbinedion said democracy is not only the ability to crush but woo people to your side and urged members of the PDP in Edo State to use their mouths to market the party.

Also speaking, the candidate of the PDP in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, said despite intimidations, he won the election hands-down and vowed to “fight the battle till the end of the day” in reference to the ongoing electoral legal battle.
While alleging that some of his witnesses were offered N30 million to woo them from giving evidence in the case, which he said they rejected, Ighodalo expressed optimism that he would win the case and provide good governance that would provide jobs for Edo people.

Earlier while admitting that the PDP was experiencing some difficulties in the state, the factional State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said the issues would bring the best out of the party.

Accusing the APC of using coercion and government machinery to drag people from the PDP, Aziegbemi expressed optimism that “The future is so, so, bright. We are on the right track. Don’t worry about those leaving us, they don’t have PDP at heart. We have more contents than those people, we have integrity, we are very, very united in Edo”.