Fidel Njamanze
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Sapele local government, David Oghenekevwe, has accused the council chairman, Ejaife Odebala, and his associates of doing everything possible to render the party useless in the state.
Oghenekevwe made this allegation on Wednesday while reacting to comments credited to Odebala regarding the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya.
The PDP chieftain in Delta State blamed Odebala for instigating and perpetuating nasty discord in the party.
In a statement in Sapele, Oghenekevwe accused Odebala and others of foisting blatant lies to malign Igbuya.
“Odebala is clearly in the picture of all meetings and consultations in preparation for the forthcoming congresses.
“Because of his sinister motive, he has most times dishonoured invitations extended to him and where he manages to attend such meetings, it is to insult the leadership of the party and to conspire with blind, egocentric and embattled individuals whose known antecedence is coming and going out of the party.
“Chief Margaret Unukegwo is a strong supporter of Labour Party governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru. She signed an Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) document endorsing Ogboru in 2015 as published in one of the national newspapers. Chief Lucky Ayomanor is not a member of PDP.
“He contested House of Assembly election in Sapele State Constituency in 2011 and 2015 under the platform of Labour Party,” he said.
Oghenekevwe who frowned at defectors who like to destroy the party advised such people to desist from such tendency.
“Odebala and his associates are always blowing their ego beyond their actual relevance, rushing to the state capital to shop for sympathy and attention while abandoning constituted channels of resolving their issues if any in Sapele.”
The party chairman, while calling for decisive action against those with conflicting affinities and divided loyalties, alerted the nation to desperate measures being planned by Odebala and others to discredit Igbuya.
“The anti-Igbuya move is choreographed by the chairman of Sapele Local Government Council. Odebala participated in the consultation and preparation for the upcoming congresses. The date, time and mode of the congresses are clearly stated.
“Odebala even submitted a list to the state chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor. To lead such a protest and also submit a list to the chairman, amount to total disrespect for the PDP leadership and the party guidelines. He wants to disrupt the party’s congresses,” the statement said.
Describing the language of Odebala, Titus Ezewuze, Onome Akpokhere, Umukoro Perkins, Edokpolor Joseph, Gabriel Gabinson Oyovwhaire, Jenkins Igogori, James Edeyan, Kenneth Ekwejunor Etchie, Margaret Unukegwo, Omasan Mabiaku, Lucky Ayomanor and others as unguided, he said “Violence has no place in Sapele politics.
“The allegation that Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya is sidelining the leaders is preposterous. Appointments were made strictly on merit. He did not nominate miscreants and thugs to party offices. When you have a council chairman that disrespects the leaders, that encourages violence and is ready to destroy the party, you should expect anything,” he said.
He advised Odebala and his co-travelers to return to Sapele and think of ways of developing the local government area.
“Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya is not working against the interest of other stakeholders in Sapele Local Government Area. He will continue to articulate, defend and espouse the interests of the Sapele people,” he added.
