Ebonyi guber: Acting PDP chairman begs Elechi

The Acting Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State, Chief Joseph Onwe, who led the faction of the party loyal to the state Deputy Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, at the weekend, begged Governor Martin El­echi for forgiveness ahead of next month’s general elections in the state.

Making the appeal at the PDP state executive committee meeting convened by the gover­nor at the party’s secretariat in Abakaliki, he urged Elechi to forgive them on the outcome of the party’s primaries in the state and support the candidates of the party.
He appealed to the governor to ensure that the party’s interest was put above others, stressing that PDP, since he was sworn in in 2007, as the governor, had enjoyed uncommon progress and peace.
The acting chairman urged him to forgive those that had wronged him in the past and at­tend the official flag -off of the party’s campaign in the state today.
Governor Elechi, in his re­marks, lamented the disunity in the party, saying he was not aware that the party would kick­off campaign today but urged party faithful to unite against the opposition and ensure that the PDP remained the ruling power in the state and in Nigeria at large.
He pointed out that it was not only the governor of the PDP, but also governor to other politi­cal parties and those that do not belong to any political party.
He said the meeting was convened to inform them of the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan to Ebonyi State for his campaign scheduled for Friday.
On the intra-party crisis, the governor said: “ I’m usually blunt when I speak. Our prob­lems are of our own making, whether we accept it or not. There were conflicting signals for people not to come for this meeting.
“By the implication of my being the leader of this party, elected on the platform of PDP and having been sworn in as governor of the state, I’m sup­posed to be responsible for the interest of everybody in the state, regardless of party divi­sion.
“I’m working for the well-being of everybody, including those in opposition party. I’m supposed to protect their lives, property and interest just as I do with those in the same party with me. If we approach our business with narrow mindedness and bring unnecessary division among ourselves, we will get to no where.”