The political atmosphere of the confluence state went agog yesterday with the news of Dr Idris Omede dumping the peoples Democratic Party PDP given some reasons raging from the party lack of ability to learn from its former mistakes and delegates preparedness to milk the aspirants before the primaries date,Omede said “it was evidenting that the Party in the present condition in the state, hasn’t learned anything from the previous experience that brought it to its current status”
he went further to pressed home his argument by openly admitted that the delegates are warming up to make big financial catch from all aspirants before and during the forthcoming governorship primary of the party.”
Another Aspirant who also didn’t meet up the deadly, the former commissioner of finance under Wada, Hon Zakari Alfa who spoke through Suleiman Alhassan said he will use the 24 millions for PDP expression form for a charity organisation, describing the entire processes as not convincing and lacking democratic elements.
The development that attracted the reaction of Atiku former campaign DG, the former acting governor of Kogi state Chief Clarance Olafemi, below is the unedited press statement from the former acting governor.
CLARANCE OLAFEMI TO PDP GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS
My attention and indeed that of major Stakeholders and dutiful members of PDP in Kogi State have been drawn to certain publications flying round the Social Media from some PDP Governorship Aspirants following their inability to purchase the PDP Governorship Nomination Form at the close of form purchase deadline.
It is pertinent to state in clear terms that the positioning a Governor of a State is not only attractive but lucrative. This is a reason why everybody desire it and wants to be there one day.
We all know that being in that position attracts power, influence and goodwill as such so desired by all that some people will do everything possible desperately to have it.
For any one to attain that position and any other position for that matter needs very honest self appraisal before putting your hat in the ring.
You need to ask yourself in the process some very honest questions.
1. Am I qualified to contest the position ?
2. If yes do I have the resources to cope?
3. Do I also have the structure on ground to lean on to ensure victory?
After giving a honest self appraisal and give honest answers to the above questions, then and only then one should decide to plunge into the contest. if along the struggle you feel you can not continue
you honourably withdraw quietly or pursue another goal and leave the rest to God.
It is however sad to note that some of our esteemed Governorship Aspirants are reverting to complaints, blackmail ant all sort of damaging statements against the party over what they call high cost of nomination forms.
The question is the fees for nomination and expression of intent forms were released over 2 months ago so why is the complaint coming at the close of collection when some even though they said it’s affordable but were unable to purchase them?
Blaming the party and pouring all sort of venom on it is to say the least very unfortunate.
We want to appeal to people of conscience among the Aspirants to kindly tow the path of honor by either picking the forms or if they cannot they should quietly bow out and not rock the boat of the party.
What we rightly observe is that most people are never equipped enough for the contest but they come with a bait whereby they will gamble with some few Naira and the moment they get the ticket they become a liability on the party. We experienced this at the last General Election especially House of Assembly election where after winning at the primaries of the party most candidates don’t have a Kobo of their own to prosecute the election.
I want to use this medium to appeal to all Aspirants to be conscientious enough to tow the bath of honor to stop blaming the party for their inability to purchase the forms.
We should also understand that as a student wanting to write exams it is not within your purview to set the question for yourself.
There are 4 authorities which me must follow to get the work done.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Electoral Act of the Parliament, the PDP Constitution and the Party Guidelines.
All these authorities are established to ensure that anarchy does not reign.