Permanent peace has finally returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Aniocha North local government area of Delta state. The peace deal was sealed under the supervision of Chief Nkem Okwuofu, leader of the party in the local government area.
The peace meeting was held at her Obomkpa residence on Sunday 27th September, 2020, where all the Party leaders in the Local Government area, as well as elected and appointed office holders, including the member representing Aniocha North in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission, Chief Barr. Josephine Kachikwu and the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Chuks Oseme, were in attendance.
Also present were the leader and members of the legislative arm of the local Government, the Chairman and members of the Executive Committee of the Party in Aniocha North, past chairmen of the Local Government, as well as former Chairmen of the party in the area.
Prior to the peace meeting, the party had been in turmoil, as factions committed to specific interests carried out silent wars of subterfuge and covert efforts to sabotage each other.
But at the peace and reconciliation meeting initiated by Chief Nkem Okwuofu, all the leaders, both elected, appointed and party members have agreed that all warring factions should sheath their swords and allow peace to reign.
They also agreed to work together for the common good of the local government and to present a formidable candidate for the chairmanship of the local government in the forth-coming local government elections in Delta state.
Speaking at the parley, Chief Okwuofu said that the all inclusive meeting was ordained and directed by God Almighty, adding that though the former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Benjamin Elue, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Former member of the House of Representatives, Prince Ned Nwoko, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu and Prof. Sylvester Monye were unavoidably absent at the meeting, they had already given their approval and their blessing.
“Every single one of them prayed and affirmed that it is high time for peace to reign in the Party. His Excellency, the Governor and the State Chairman of our party are fully aware of our gathering today,” she revealed
The renowned politician said she, being the oldest serving politician in the local government, decided to call for the meeting to resolve all the lingering issues and ensure peace returns to the party in the area. She told journalists that being the mother and leader of the party in the local government, it is her responsibility to ensure peace reigns.
According to her: “By all justification, I’m qualified to call for this meeting. Everybody sees me as the mother of everybody and indeed I am. I have looked at it and said I have failed in my duty by not bringing my people together. As a mother it is necessary to do that because where I am going to is closer than where I am coming from. I needed to get my people together.
“They are my brothers and sisters. Within one week, I called for this meeting. I call it an all-inclusive meeting, bringing all of them together from all sides. Aniocha North must wake up and embrace peace. There must be peace, unity and loyalty to the party. Governor Okowa, having helped us this much, if we are not together, we cannot follow him properly.
“From today, we have resolved that there will be no other group in Aniocha North, no other meeting in Aniocha North. Apart from the party executives calling meetings, I’m the only one now entitled to call everybody together, address and speak to everybody in the capacity of a leader.
“This was overwhelmingly accepted by everybody. They recognized me as the leader of the local government. Everybody is now back together. And I know that today we will all go home and sleep very well. No leader is to call any meeting, no executive is to lead any aspirant, any community that has more than one aspirant, they are to present the most sellable one.
“Nobody is to meddle in any other person’s ward. We don’t want any of our chairmanship aspirants to drop any name; this one or that one has endorsed. We need to produce the best that can compete with any other chairman anywhere in the state. Not because somebody is backing him or parading him. We won’t accept that,” she declared.
Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, member representing Aniocha North in the state house of assembly, said he is totally in support of all the submissions of Chief Okwuofu, adding that prior to the peace meeting, there had been no peace in the local government area.
He commended Okwuofu for the initiative, saying: “she decided to call for this meeting to bring everybody together to preach peach and admonish everyone that from today, there is no more segregation. This is an initiative that we have all agreed to accept. It is a welcome development. It is an initiative that we have never had in the past.
“I strongly believe that she spoke from the depth of her heart that she genuinely wants peace. I am an advocate of peace. We will all do everything within our capacity to ensure this peace which has begun today is sustained and there will be no issues anymore.
“I am very happy and on behalf of the entire people of Aniocha North, I wish to appreciate her for presenting herself as an instrument to be used by God to initiate what has just happened today. The sermon here was geared towards bringing lasting peace to Aniocha North. I pray that God will help us to sustain the peace initiative that has just begun today.
