Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and major stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) switched allegiance from the opposition party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday because of the change in the taste in palm wine of power., State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said.
Speaking after a meeting of leaders and stakeholders of the PDP held at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State, Aniagwu said: “The leaders of the party in the course of the consultation were unanimous in their view that the political temperature has changed; the taste of the palm wine in this instance has also changed, and there was a need for us to adjust the drinking pattern.
Conspicuously present at the meeting were immediate past Governor of the State and former Vice-Presidential candidate of the party, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, and members of the National Assembly.
No specific mention was made of Okowa also leaving the PDP for APC.
But speaking further on the departure of Oborevwori and others, Aniagwu said: “In adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to take a decision that will further help to cement the development in our State, to build the bond of love that has existed in our State, to further advance the course of security and the welfare of our people, and to a very large extent ensure that development in Delta, because every politics is local, is not truncated.
“In taking that decision, we came to the inevitable conclusion that moving out of the PDP is very very necessary for us to be able to collaborate with our kith and kin and build that State every Deltan would be proud of.
“We believe that what is happening and the state of the PDP is akin to that palm wine whose taste has changed, and there was a need for us to change the drinking pattern.
“That is why this decision has been taken unanimously by leaders and stakeholders of the party, and by the grace of God, on Monday, we will be able to make a very big statement as to the fact that we are moving into the APC”.
Pioneer Chairman of the PDP in the State, Senator James Manager, said the decision was taken in consultation with various stakeholders across the State.
“You have just been told about some of the things that have been happening in the PDP Delta State. Some consultations have been going on and the climax of these consultations is what you are seeing today.
“We have discussed and have disagreed to agree and it is a unanimous agreement. I am the pioneer state chairman of the PDP. But you cannot be in a boat that is already capsizing because I am a riverine man.
“Looking at issues the way they are, we have come to the inevitable conclusion to do something else. It is a collective decision for so many reasons.
“Few days ago, there was a resolution taken by the PDP Governor’s forum at Ibadan. Almost all the Governor’s where there and they resolved that they are not going into coalition with any other party.
“But as disadvantaged as the PDP is now with about 11 Governors, how do you go into a contest with an incumbent president? You think you can win? That particular resolution killed the spirit of so many PDP members.
“We lost election in 2015 as a result of a merger which even included splinter groups from the PDP. There are also other reasons.
“Today Senator Anyanwu is the National Secretary of the party tomorrow is another person. The party must be position to go into an election to win. So you see that it is becoming very funny. The PDP is truly in trouble.
“If you look well, the current PDP state chairman was in the meeting, the governor was there, the Deputy governor, the immediate past governor, the speaker. All of these persons were in the meeting. National Assembly members and even the House of Assembly members. The who is who in Delta State was in the meeting to make this decision.”
Others present at the event are Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, members of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Local Government Council Chairmen, top government functionaries, stakeholders, leaders and party officials.
