Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and former External Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, has alluded reason why the South-West cannot produce the chairman of the party.
Chief Ikimi was speaking at the PDP Zonal Congress that held in Port Harcourt on Monday when he said the PDP cannot afford to allow the South-West produce the chairman because it is prone to crisis.
Speaking at the zonal congress, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike declared the PDP still exists because of the investment and commitment of South-South members and leaders of the party.
He urged the PDP from other zones to extend their gratitude to leaders and members of the PDP from the South-South for their commitment to the survival of the PDP.
“If PDP leaders and members from the South-South are not committed, there wouldn’t have been PDP today.
“It is important that PDP members from other zones of the country congratulate South-South PDP members for their steadfastness at a time PDP was in crisis”.
“We are going as a family and we will continue to work as a family. We will not allow any external force to divide the South-South. We will continue to be together,” Wike said.
Also speaking, Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson said, “We are in very trying times. We are in opposition, facing a very fierce and ruthless government at the Federal level. This is a time the governors need your support”.
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was present at the event said for the stability of the PDP, it is necessary for the next chairman to come from the South-South.
“It is important we stabilize the PDP. That is why we need a chairman of PDP from the South-South”, he said.
National Vice Chairman of PDP, South-South, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi said that the South-South will work with other zones to strengthen the party.
The congress attracted PDP leaders from all the six states of the zone.