The trauma being suffered by the Publicity arm of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State should by now become a major source of concern for the leadership of the opposition party, and other well-meaning Deltans. This is because the matter is degenerating, and giving way to what is obviously emotional instability caused by the phobia of the sweet-smelling successes being achieved by the administration of His Excellency, Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor.
How else should the mindset of an opposition party’s publicity department that engrosses itself in hysteria, and shouting wolf where there is none be described? Again, the new focus of the APC is in its panic in the face of the reality that its candidate in Edo State for the gubernatorial elections, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu is no match for the achiever Governor, and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki. The APC has thus become furious, and like a drowning party, it is battling to clutch to straw in the futile bid to stay afloat.
As usual, in its latest gambit, titled: “Edo Guber: Stop using Delta youths As Political Cannon Fodders – Delta APC To Govr. Okowa”, the factional APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sylvester Imonina is alleging that the “Youths from Owa axis of Ika Nation in Delta State are being recruited by PDP-led Government of Delta State for the purpose of election violence /malfeasance in local government areas in Edo State that share boundaries with Delta State.”
The factional APC’s allegation states: “Reports have it that youths are moving in droves to Orhionwon Local Government Area of Edo State, where Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is reported to have a stronghold.”
The point to make is that it is illiterate to insult the sensibilities of the youths of Delta State the way the factional APC has done. Delta State youths are sensible, wise, and more responsible to seek and to allow themselves to be used by being taken to unfamiliar terrains in the name and search for filthy lucre. The youths in Delta are currently occupied with taking advantage of the numerous youth training programmes and facilities put in place by the State Government to change their levels for better living. They have come to terms with the SMART Agenda of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led PDP Government and have embraced the five-point initiative, especially in the areas of Strategic Wealth Creation and Provision of Jobs for All Deltans.
It is pertinent to inform the factional APC that Wealth creation and employment generation have remained one of the critical focus areas of the PDP administration, reflecting the conviction that deliberate Government focus and action was needed to stem the tide of rising unemployment. Of course, the PDP Government’s intervention strategy has combined time-tested and trusted quick-wins and long term plans for job and wealth creation that is targeted mainly at the teeming youths of the State.
Across the State, in the Local Governments, including wards, Delta youths are embracing the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP), buoyed by the Development of Agro-Industries, and Extension of Microcredit. Since the first set of YAGEPreneurs and STEPreneurs were unveiled on January 14, 2015, during a passing out ceremony at Songhai Delta, Amukpe by Governor Okowa himself, no fewer than some thousands of youths have continued to embrace the various youth development and strategic wealth creation programmes of the administration. Is this what the factional APC thinks that Delta youths can be goaded into leaving to embrace obnoxious election work in very unsafe and unfamiliar terrain?
Delta State PDP Government thinks very highly of our youths as can be seen in the various programmes put in place for them to take advantage of for their self-worth. And testimonies abound of how the youths have embraced the various programmes that catch their fancy and have become better for it. Just last week, the third batch of STEP graduates passed out from a one-day Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT) for beneficiaries of the 2019/2020 cycle. The training which took place in Asaba was attended by 68 beneficiaries who have successfully completed their vocational training in their chosen skills and have also successfully passed the Post-Training Proficiency Test (PTPT.)
We in the PDP have always seen APC as a party that thrives in mischief and will stop at nothing in its phantasmagoria to concoct anything as it has done in its unintelligent and puerile allegations. We make bold to state that Delta youths are SMARTER than that, having passed through the tutelage of the SMART Agenda which they are embracing with excitement.
Of course, it is, however, not impossible that APC could be the ones organizing its own youths who could have been brainwashed, and for political sentiment’s sake have refused to embrace the SMART Agenda of the PDP Government for their own good. It is not impossible that these set of APC youths could be what the factional Publicity Secretary of the party is referring to. After all, the APC sees every election in which it has a stake in as a do or die event. It is possible that it is the party in alliance with its Edo State counterpart that are in league, and now without shame and gumption making the unfounded allegation against the PDP Government.
Of course, Deltans as usual are conversant with the APC use of clever schemes, usually to hoodwink unsuspecting people into believing its tricks. We see the party’s allegation as devious and deceptive to divert people’s attention so as perfect its plots and maneuvers at rigging the Edo State election.
Of course, the APC will fail.
Dr. Ifeanyi M. Osuoza
State Publicity Secretary,
PDP, Delta State.