PDP will take over in 2019, says Dokpesi

Raymond Dokpesi, candidate for the position of national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says with him at the helm, the party will “take over in 2019”.

Having ruled since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, PDP surrendered power in 2015 to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But Dokpesi, who traced the party’s fall to its deviation from the visions of its founding fathers, said the easiest way for it to warm its way back into the hearts of citizens is for members to return to those ideals.

Addressing party members and delegates in Asaba, capital of Delta state on Monday, he asked them to embrace the visions of the founding fathers of the party.

He said the vision of PDP founding fathers was “to establish a political party that would promote national unity and would accommodate the opinion and voice of every citizen under a common ‘umbrella.'”

“The PDP founding fathers wanted a party whose operations would be guided by democratic principles, create jobs for its teeming population and make life a lot more meaningful for the people,” said Dokpesi, who is currently on a nationwide campaign tour.

“However, over time, the party has shifted focus away from these noble ideals, and has lost track in the process. To get back on track, we must be willing to readjust ourselves to the realities of current political challenges.

“The only way to do so is to return to the visions of the founding fathers of the party, a vision that guarantees internal party democracy and allows only the best from amongst the people to represent us.

“Let us sit back and reflect. We have deviated from the visions of our founding fathers and we need to retrace our steps very quickly.”

He reminded members about the leadership crisis currently hitting the party at the national level, putting it down to the emergence of Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman, and the credibility baggage hanging around the man when the party opened its doors to him.

“I have come to properly unite the party and bring all contending forces together and make PDP virile one more,” he said, urging party members in the state to remain steadfast.

“I am confident that with me in charge of the affairs of the party, PDP will bounce back to glory in no time,” he said. “If we do our little bits, we will bounce back to glory and it would be good for delta state.”

Dokpesi solicited their support, reminding them of some of his accomplishments in his days with the South-South Peoples Assembly, and how he drew attention to issues in the Niger-Delta, eventually making it possible for a south-south president to emerge.

Receiving Dokpesi and his campaign team, Kingsley Esiso, state chairman of the party, said PDP could only dethrone APC in 2019 by first having a formidable national chairman.

“You have the carriage, competence and capacity to deliver on the job,” he said of Dokpesi.

“I know you are a builder, I know you have the capacity. We will be in Port Harcourt in full force. We must encourage you as our brother so we must support you.”

Dokpesi and his campaign team later paid a courtesy visit to the Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of the state, before moving on to neighboring Anambra state where Dokpesi also made his aspiration known to another large crowd of party members.

There, he promised to rebuild PDP in the state and at the national level, saying: ” I want PDP to take over Anambra. We’ll rebuild PDP in Anambra and take over in 2019.”

With him were Kassim Oyofo, former senator, and Henry Tenebe, organising secretary of PDP in Edo state.

The convention to elect a new PDP chairman holds on August 17 in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, with the party having zoned the position to the south.