The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has partnered with the security agencies to deepen democracy in the state.
The party’s state caretaker chairman, Mr. Steve Oruruo, described the police and other security agencies as partners in advancing democracy and appealed for security in the party’s activities.
Oruruo, the chairman of the 15-member caretaker committee, made the disclosure when he led the party’s executive members on a courtesy call to the state Commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo, at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He said the police are a partner as far as democracy is concerned and that their performances have helped to ensure that democracy thrives. He hailed their expertise, competences and commitment, with some of them losing their lives to ensure that democracy is sustained.
He further disclosed that Ebonyi State needs a vibrant opposition party to improve the performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, adding that the PDP has bounced back in the state and will give the APC a good run in future elections.
He described vibrant opposition as a tool for making a ruling party perform. “If they remain very strong, united, one accord with a clear vision, they are going to triumph. So, our target is that we provide a party that will be running elections and winning elections in Ebonyi. We want a party that people can trust and say let their first eleven join this party and win elections for their people.
“We want to create plurality of opinion, we want a situation where people will have a chance to talk on another perspective. A society without an opposition party is doomed for life.
“So, we need a vibrant opposition party to put pressure on the sitting government to even perform better. It serves the people well that we have a very strong PDP in the state,” Oruruo stated.
“PDP has bounced back in Ebonyi. If you are passing through the secretariat, you will see signs that the party is bouncing back. But the party must admit that it is an opposition party and as an opposition party, they have to stay united. The strongest point or part of an opposition party is that sense of unison, sense of oneness,” he added.
Oruruo noted that he had before now visited the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and Department of State Security Service (DSS) to also partner with them adding that the people of the state are in dire need of alternative party which he said PDP will fill the gap soon.
The state commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo, addressed the caretaker committee and promised to provide an enabling environment for every political party in the state to function optimally.
She also promised to be fair and decisive in dealing with official matters without recourse to sentiments or biases of any kind.
