In a document titled RESOLUTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF HIS EXCELLENCY CHIEF (DR) IKEDI OHAKIM AS THE PDP CANDIDATE BY PDP WARD CHAIRMEN FROM THE THREE ZONES OF THE STATE, the chairmen of the Peoples Democratic party in the state adopted Governor Ikedi Ohakim to be their candidate in the 2015 governorship election. The group which met at Ohkim’s Okohia residence said: “We, the grassroots chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party from across the three zones of Imo state, hereby ADOPT Him (Dr Ikedi Ohakim). And we so resolve.” According to the group, “following developments that has transpired in our party since the unfortunate accident of 2011, and recently, the visit of the South-East integration committee headed by His Excellency Dr Ahmadu Ali, we the heads of the organ of the party closest to the grass root that feels the purse of the generality of Imo electorate, felt compelled to make a resolution to be forwarded to you Mr. Chairman, and to both the NEC and NWC of our party based on the following indisputable facts: “Our party (PDP) remains the overwhelming majority party in Imo state. “As the heads of the lowest organ of the party, our individual reach does not extend to Abuja, where most of the party decisions are made, but collectively we felt, maybe, we the grass root leaders of the party could make an input to the decision making process regarding our great party in Imo state, in choosing a candidate with the best chance of winning the Imo Governorship election. “Both individually and collectively, we have all suffered tremendous hardship, and yet, we all managed to keep the party together, so that PDP remains the overwhelmingly majority party in the state despite being in opposition. “We are the first grass root leaders of PDP since 1999 that did not serve under a PDP Governor in over 90% of our tenure, despite winning the Governorship of Imo state in the 2011 election. “As ward chairmen, we can say without equivocation that we won the 2011 Guber election in at least 68% of the 305 wards of Imo state. This feat we accomplished despite the treachery and conspiracy pepertrated by some leaders of the party in the state. Some of whom are now seeking to become governor of Imo state under PDP. “On February 22, 2014, most of these leaders returned back to PDP Imo state at the reception of Mr. President, His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan held at Dan Anyiam stadium. “We have received with open arms all our brothers and sisters who left the party. We did so because our people say “without wrong doing, there will be no forgiveness”, but more especially because our great party’s logo is the umbrella, and it is big enough for all. “Although, we have received these returnees with open arms, but the wounds created by their conspiracy and treachery are yet to be completely healed. Most of these individuals have only been back for about seven months, but we have suffered for over three years, both individually and collectively as a result of their treachery. “Based on the foregoing, therefore, we, the grass root leaders of Imo PDP collectively appeal to the integration committee, the NEC, and NWC, to allow at least a full year of a process of assimilation before a ticket is given to any returnee, to fly the flag of the party as a governorship candidate for such an action does not only communicate the rewarding of treachery but could potentially tear the party apart, further ensuring that PDP remains out of Imo state government house for another four (4)years. The constitution of our great party says that a returnee to our great party must be a member of the party for at least two (2yrs) years before he/she may be sponsored for an election or by a waiver by the party. This is most important when considering who flies the party’s Guber ticket. The underlying reason for this provision is to ensure that adequate time is given for assimilation process to take place. “Based on our knowledge so far, we are unaware of any person who has been granted this waiver for the governorship candidacy of PDP except in the rare occasion of an incumbent governor elected on the platform of another party decamping and coming to PDP. We believe that this is because of the rare advantage that such an incumbent governor affords our great party in retaining the governorship in such a case. “Without an incumbent among the PDP returnees, we therefore make our resolution based on who among the aspirants gives us the best opportunity to win Imo Governorship, come 2015. “We take note of the agitations of Okigwe and Owerri zones that the governorship ticket of PDP should be zoned to them, however, there are aspirants from each of the three zones of the state. Our concern at this point is not which zone of the state that should produce the candidate of our great party, the PDP, but what candidate gives us the best chance to win the Imo governorship election, come 2015. “The individual among all the aspirants, is His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Ikedi Ohakim, and these are our reasons: “Ikedi Ohakim is the only aspirant who has structure in the 305 wards of Imo state, and who incidentally is aspiring to fly the flag of our great party, come 2015. “His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim is the only aspirant with requisite capacity to match the incumbent Governor, project for project, in the state, having served as a governor in the state for four years, just like the incumbent. “No zone in the entire state could claim marginalisation under Ohakim’s administration 2007-2011, as such he is the most acceptable aspirant that could potentially cool frayed nerves because he has only one term of four years constitutionally to serve as a governor. “His Excellency, Dr Ikedi Ohakim is the only candidate, if given the PDP ticket that could guarantee the revival of the life sustaining projects and programs abandoned and jettisoned by the incumbent administration because he is the author and originator of these life sustaining projects and programs. “The vindictive actions of the incumbent Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in dissolving all institution of governance, both tenured governance institutions and the ten thousand (10,000) graduate jobs of the Ohakim’s administration, including the recent revelations that he had never been in the same physical enclosure, let alone, flog Father Eustace Okorie as was alleged, by one of the most highly respected men of God in the entire South-East zone, have sparked an unprecedented movement in the nooks and crannies of Imo villages such that the tape of that man of God’s revelation has become the highest selling tape in the entire South-East. With the avalanche of sympathy created by the by the recent revelations, coupled with the return of all returnees, if genuine, we the heads of the lowest party organ in Imo state will guarantee PDP return to Imo state government house if his Excellency Ikedi Ohakim is given the ticket. Again, we feel compelled to make this resolution, and graciously appeal to you Mr. Chairman of the PDP integration committee South-East and to the other two highest organs of our party, the NEC and NWC that Imo state remains a PDP state. However, PDP cannot afford another four years out of power because our great party the PDP cannot continue to maintain its majority status if she remains out power for another four years. “Based on the sentiment generated among the rank and file of Imo electorates as a consequence of the maladministration of the incumbent in his vindictive dissolutions of tenured institutions of governance in the state coupled with the ten thousand graduate jobs, Dr Ikedi Ohakim is guaranteed at least two hundred thousand (200,000) votes from affected people of this class even before the real campaign starts. “With or without zoning, our resolution is based on simply who is the candidate that guarantees PDP return to Imo government house, come 2015. Nevertheless, the precedent established by His Excellency Chief Achike Udenwa of Orlu zone, makes it acceptable that Okigwe zone must complete her remaining term of four years before the governorship of Imo state is rotated to Owerri zone to complete the first cycle. “Mr. President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s transformation agenda has changed Nigeria for good: “Today, for the first time in twenty (20yrs) years, goods can be hauled from Lagos to Kano via Rail transportation further reducing road accidents occasioned by big trucks. “The Ebola outbreak in Nigeria was quickly nipped in the bud reducing the casualty rate of this deadly disease to the bearest minimum. “Nigeria economy is the best it has been for a long time because of the sustained economic growth that has maintained GDP at over 6% for the past four years under the watch of Mr. President. “For these and other goodies, we now experience under Mr. President’s masterful control of the administration, we collectively resolve to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate, come 2015. “The group also appealed to “the President, the Chairman of our great part, the PDP, the national executive committee of the PDP, the national working committee of the PDP, and the Chairman of the integration committee: “That our thinking is that the granting of a waiver to returnee is simply an exception and not the rule under the constitution of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as such granting such exception should be based on extraordinary circumstances. That being the case, we the grass root party chairmen respectfully recommends that a returnee to PDP Imo state applying for waiver to fly the Guber PDP ticket in Imo state must have been back in the party for at least a period of twelve (12) calendar months, to allow for needed minimum period for assimilation before a general election. “His Excellency Dr Ikedi Ohakim remains the best chance for PDP to capture back Imo state Government House and for that reason”
Ohakim
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