Directive to Shun Delta South Senatorial APC Stakeholders Unity Meeting Convened By Dr. Alex Ideh: Intra-Party Strife Taken Too Far

The attention of the Delta South Senatorial District APC Solidarity Front has been drawn to a publication threatening sanctions and directing invited stakeholders to shun a unity meeting conveyed by Dr. Alex Ideh of all stakeholders in the district. 

As a group that treasures the solidarity and cohesion of the APC across Senatorial boundaries: we did not only read the publication with chagrin but sees it as intra-party strife taken too far. We have decided to respond not to apportion blames but to re-enact in our collective minds that the directive and threats of sanctions contained in the said publication is just one of the several bane plaguing Delta State APC. 

We had thought that the leadership of the Party at the State's level would receive the news of the initiative by Dr. Alex Ideh with joy knowing that if it is sustained ahead of the coming general elections from one Senatorial district to another, it will not only guarantee the party's chances of clinching power in the long run but would also remedy the already battered scorecard of the State's Executives in the interim. 

The publication took us aback when it stated that Dr. Alex Ideh is not a party official or member of any organ of the party and has no authority to summon a Senatorial meeting of the district or lay claim to leadership of the Senatorial district. For the records, Dr. Alex Ideh has not expressly or by conduct said he is an official of the Delta APC or member of any organ of the party in the State. He only invited the party stakeholders for a unity meeting ahead of our convention and the general elections with the ultimate goal of our party's victory at the polls come 2023 and nothing more. His intentions were nothing short of hosting the stakeholders in an atmosphere where they can harmonize their political views and resolve pent-up differences and animosities. A personality like Dr. Alex Ideh is not just a party member. He can be justifiably described as an "APC Chieftain" who has the requisite experience and clout to convene such a meeting. For the records again, the meeting is not a state executive meeting that only the leadership or organ of the party could convene. 

We find the directive to shun such meeting as a grave insult on Dr. Alex Ideh who was a former National Treasurer of the ACN and the Secretary of the National Convention at which President Muhamadu Buhari was elected as the flag bearer of the APC ahead of the 2015 general elections. This is unlike the APC. We are a party that have respect for patrons and chieftains unlike some other parties. 

Objectively, the threats of sanction and accusations in the said publication are divisive and speculative respectively. They are uncalled for at this time and even beyond now. We need to get back on track as one family ahead of 2023. We implore the leadership of the party to purge her mind of any assumptions that the said meeting is about the gubernatorial ambitions of either Chief Great Ogboru or Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (DSP) or Chief Otega Emerhor or Hon. Festus Keyamo. It is simply not. To further dispel any such fear; we had it on good authority that Dr. Alex Ideh even visited Chief Esigie a.k.a. Esco (Renowned Owner of Esco Superstores, Warri) at his residence and discussed the plan to convene a stakeholders meeting in that regard and invited him as well. Unfortunately, in another untoward move which is reflective of the division which Dr. Alex Ideh seeks to remedy; the said Chief Esigie who himself is of the Delta South Senatorial District extraction, convened another meeting slated for the same day as the one scheduled by Dr. Alex Ideh. What a confusion.

We believe that a meeting of the nature convened by Dr. Alex Ideh can be convened by any party member of the clout and experience of Dr. Alex Ideh in any of the Senatorial districts except where its agenda is not in the overall interest of the party. The agenda of the meeting is clearly not contrary to our party's Constitution or against our collective goals, and has equally not been seen or shown to be so. The publication is therefore unnecessary, diversionary and divisive. On a final note, we all know how the APC came to clinch power through collaborative inputs and efforts of different minds and parties. No one group(s) or interest(s) or person(s) within the party has the magic wand alone to bring Delta APC to power in the State and the earlier we realize the need to unite and work together, the better for us. We guess this is what Dr. Alex Ideh wants to do and should be encouraged.

Yours In Solidarity,

Director-General,

APC Solidarity Front,

Delta South Senatorial District Chapter.

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