Dele Ogunyemi, Warri
The Restoration Agenda Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State on Tuesday called for urgent reconciliation with the aggrieved party members in the State while urging the national body of the party to prevail on the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is the APC Leader in Delta, “to shift ground by accommodating major stakeholders who feel marginalized and fenced out during the last congresses”.
Making the call at a press conference in Warri, the Restorate Agenda Group headed by Professor David Ejenobo of Delta State University, Abraka, noted that “by so doing, genuine reconciliation will not only take place but the party will be more united”.
The group traced the APC crisis in Delta State that climaxd in last Saturday’s defection of some party members to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, to’the party’s lopsided cmgresses held last year”.
Professor Ejenobo said, “Since last week Saturday, many concerned members of the party have been putting their heads together to figure out how to save the soul of the party. This press conference is the result of such discussions. It is the considered opinion of this group that urgent steps need to be taken immediacy to stop the APC from going into oblivion in Delta State”.
He added, “If APC is to make an impact in the 2023 elections, then this is the only path available to achieving that goal”.
While reiterating the need for urgent reconciliation of aggrieved party men, the Restoration Agenda Group maintained that “the APC in Delta State is still vary much alive and kicking in spite of the recent ugly developments”.
The group said, “We therefore affirm our commitment to the ideals of APC and our neutrality in trying .to fashion solutions to the prevailing circumstances. We therefore call on all our teeming APC members to remain steadfast and united in achieving the aims and objectives of the party in Delta State.
“It is our considered opinion that the National body should come in to do all it can to bring back sanity into the affairs of the party. We suggest that the National body should prevail on the Leader of the Party in Delta State, DSP Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege to shift ground by accommodating major stakeholders who feel marginalized and fenced out during the last congresses. By so doing, genuine reconciliation will not only take place but the party will be more united. If APC is to make an impact in the 2023 elections, then this is the only path available to achieving that goal”.
The Restoration Agenda group also affirmed its support for the leadership of the President, Major-General Muhamnadu Buhari (Retd.) urging him to give direction on the selection of who will take over from him as the country’s next President saying they are prepared to work with his directives.
“We pledge our willingness to work with whoever emerges as the candidate of the party for the Presidental election”, the group submitted.
Ends