Ex-minister of Foreign Affairs and founding member of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tom Ikimi, yesterday, said the ruling party has deviated from its original purpose and ideology since its formation in 2013.
Ikimi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national leader, stated this at a PDP stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo State.
He said, “My assessment is that the APC was hijacked by some forces and converted into a structure that was not of the best interest of our nation. We are all witnesses of their operations so far and indeed the disaster that we are going through.”
He said at formation the APC was expected to act as an alternative to the former ruling PDP, noting the idea was to replicate what obtains in the United States and Britain where a two strong party system exists.
“That party (APC) is now a collection of people possessing only personal interests,” he said.
The former minister further noted that “Despite the grave difficulties that our country faces today under the APC, it seems that all we are now presented with are just the desperate efforts to destroy the PDP so that the country may become a one party dictatorship”, adding “It is very clear to me that the only way forward for our country now is the survival of the PDP.”
He however said the ongoing adjustments at the highest leadership level of PDP will produce good results for the party and the country in a none too distant future.
He noted that no organisation, political party or country can progress smoothly without obeying established rules and regulations.
The PDP national leader however said Edo State is a key state in the South South which is a strong PDP base.
He however lamented that personal ambitions were destroying the PDP’s unity and strength in the South South region.
“This stakeholders meeting is very important indeed. It conveys a very clear message to the country that the PDP in Edo State is strong and vibrant”, Ikhimi stressed.
Alluding to the defection of PDP members in Delta State into APC, the former Foreign Affairs minister said, “The APC attack on the South South Region has been intense recently.
“I have seen in the press reports of the defection of our Delta State Governor to APC and this also included the defection of his predecessor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to the APC as well. I am aware of the route we took in the PDP to give Gov Sheriff Oborevwori the ticket of our party as well as to give his predecessor the Vice Presidential ticket.
“All that I can say now is that it is indeed very early to express too much regrets. It is not out of place to say that the people of Delta have not yet spoken recalling that in 2023 PDP lost Delta massively; to Senator Peter Obi of Labour Party, a candidate with no governor at that time.”
In his comment, a former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, said there are only two political parties in the country, the PDP and the rest of them.
He said democracy is not the ability to crush but woo people to your side and urged members of the PDP in Edo State to use their mouths to market the party.
On his part, the candidate of the PDP in the September 21 governorship election in the state, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, said despite intimidation, he won the election hands-down and vowed that “We will fight the battle till the end of the day” in reference to the ongoing electoral legal battle.
He alleged that some of his witnesses were offered N30 million to woo them from giving evidence in the case but they declined, expressing optimism of winning the case and providing good governance that would provide jobs for Edo people.
Earlier while acknowledging that the PDP was experiencing some difficulties in the state, the State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said the issues will bring the best out the party.
“The future’s so bright. We are on the right track. Don’t worry about those leaving us, they don’t have PDP at heart. We have more content than those people, we have integrity, we are very very united in Edo”, Aziegbemi said and accused the APC of using coercion and government machinery to drag people from the PDP.
