By Ejiro Nesisa
Concerned members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyede Federal Ward 12, Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, have urged the Chairman of the party in the State to restore members of the Ward’s Executive duly recognised and confirmed by the National Working Committee of the PDP.
The concerned party faithful namely: Chief Othuke Otunumeruke, Joel Orute and seven others, in a letter addressed to the State Party Chairman, said, they would be constrained to seek legal redress in the court if the recognised executive members of the party in the ward are not restored within 14 days.
They also alleged total marginalization of their 18 members of Oyede PDP Ward from caucus meetings where major decisions are taken at the Oyede PDP Ward 12 by some individuals.
In a letter written on behalf of party faithful by their Principal Counsel, B. E Umukoro alleged that the list of those sworn-in by the Isoko North PDP Chairman, Mr. Benard Idisi was not those “duly recognized (approved) by LGA PDP, Ward 12 which was confirmed by the NWC and signed by the National Organising Secretary.”
The letter noted that: “Our clients went further to inform us that Oyede Federal Ward 12 which comprises of ward 18 and ward 19, the members of the ward have agreed via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into, accepted that the ward executive leaders be rotated among ward 18 and 19 created by the Delta State Government with the aim of having equal representation in all meetings summoned with a view to strengthening the peace and unity of the party so as to avoid rancor and discrimination in the Oyede PDP Federal Ward 12.”
The letter noted that despite this understanding, some individuals are “still hijacking the structure and running Oyode PDP Ward 12 affairs like their private owned estate, thereby plotting the downfall of the party.
“Our clients further stated that by the memorandum of understanding entered into between the two wards, the adopted sharing formula that has been operational since the creation of the ward 18 and 19 has strengthened the unity, peace, progress and kept the party alive till date,” the letter noted.
It added: “It is the continued information of our clients that the leaders of Oyede PDP Ward 18 met on the 14th day of July 2024 at Chief Othuke Otunumeruke’s residence in Oyede Town at about 4pm and unanimously considered the offices zoned to their ward 18 from the agreed zoning document which was duly distributed to all the various units that make up ward 18 after it was harmonized and signed with ward 19 Oyede PDP leaders before it was submitted to the party (PDP) at the LGA level and same was approved by the National Working Committee, (NWC) of PDP and was equally signed by the National Organising Secretary of PDP”.
When contacted, the Party’s Chairman in Isoko North, Hon Benard Idisi said the list of those he swore in was the one given to him by the leadership of the party.
B.E. UMUKORO & ASSOCIATES
Barristers, Solicitors Real Property, Estate Management & Co-operate Consultant
(ORACLE CHAMBERS)
ADDRESS: BRANCH OFFICE:
No. 144 Emore Road, No. 1 Winclabert Plaza,
Oleh, Bethel Oborevwori Road
Isoko South L.G.A., (Winners Junction),
Delta State off Osubi/Orerokpe Expressway,
Tel: 08064333818 Osubi, Warri, Delta State
Email: oraclemugwolo@gmail.com
Our Ref:_________
Your Ref:________ Date___________________
Attention of the Chairman
People Democratic Party (PDP)
Delta State, Asaba.
Sir,
A CASE OF CONSPIRACY, HIGH-HANDEDNESS, MANIPULATION OF EXISTING RECORDS,INTIMIDATION/MARGINALIZATION OF OYEDE PDP WARD 18 MEMBERS, PLANNED RECOGNITION/ILLEGAL SWEARING IN OF IMPOSTORS AS THE VALID OYEDE PDP LGA WARD EXCOS/REPRESENTATIVES PERPETRATED BY MR. BERNARD IDISI (L.G.A CHAIRMAN ISOKO NORTH PDP, HON. CHRISTIAN OTHUKE ITEIRE (IMMEDIATE PAST ISOKO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMAN) AND OTHERS – A CLARION CALL AND REQUEST FOR YOUR URGENT INTERVENTION TO UPHOLD THE TRUTH AND ACCORDS CREDENCE TO THE VALID AND SUBSISTING PARTY RULES TIMEOUSLY AS ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF PDP.
We have been briefed and our legal services retained by (1) CHIEF OTHUKE
OTUNUMERUKE (2) JOEL ORUTE (3) HON. GOODHEAD ABRIKE (4) HON. ABEL AKPOKORIE (5) CHIEF DANIEL OKPE (6) MATTHEW OVOH (7) MRS. LUCKY ALOMOR (8) KINGSLEY ALAGBA and (9) EMMANUEL OMOROKA concerned PDP Faithful of Oyede ward 18 and are hereinafter referred to as our “Clients” and on whose firm, succinct, specific instructions and information we write to you as follows;
Our clients seriously regret that you as a state chairman of their party (PDP) is being reached through this medium other than through other channel of communication. However the instant approach has become necessary as our clients have in their hands a case of extreme urgency that requires prompt and immediate notification through a channel not subject to the usual protocols and bureaucratic formalism.
Consequently the understanding of Mr. Chairman is deeply prayed by our clients.It is the information of our clients that it should be recalled that they have through their counsel N.O. EVAKOHO ESQ. written a protest letter to your office dated the 25th day of July 2024 complaining of non-compliance with constitution of the People’s Democratic Party and a total
marginalization of their Oyede PDP ward 18 members from caucus meetings where major decisions are taken at the Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) by some unscrupulous elements/dictators who does not want the unity, progress and development of their Party (PDP). 17th October, 2024.
Our clients went further to informed us that Oyede federal ward twelve (12) which comprise of ward 18 and ward 19, the members of the ward have agreed Via a memorandum of understanding (MOU) entered into, accepted that the ward executive leaders be rotated among ward 18 and 19 created by the Delta State Government with the aim of having equal representation in all meetings summoned with the view of strengthening the unity and peace of the party so as to avoid rancor and discrimination in the Oyede PDP federal ward twelve (12).
It is the brief of our clients that despite this understanding as stated above, some individuals who are so tyrannical and dictatorial are still hijacking the structure and running the Oyede PDP ward twelve (12) affairs like their private owned estate thereby plotting the down fall of PDP. Our clients further stated that by the memorandum of understanding entered into between the two wards, they adopted a sharing formula that has been operational since the creation of the ward 18 and 19 by the Delta State Government which has strengthened the unity, peace, progress and kept the party alive till date.
It is the continued information of our client that the leaders of Oyede PDP ward 18 met on the 14th day of July 2024 at Chief Othuke Otunumeruke residence in Oyede Town at about 4pm and unanimously considered the offices zoned to their ward 18 from the agreed zoning document which was duly distributed to all the various Units that make up ward 18 after it was harmonized and signed with ward 19 Oyede PDP leaders before it was submitted to the party (PDP) at the L.G.A level and same was approved by the national working committee (NWC) of PDP and was equally signed by the national organizing secretary of PDP. The photocopies of the approved list of names of Oyede PDP ward Twelve (12) excos and the names of the majority of the ward stakeholders/ leaders that signed backing the approval of the list of excos representing the ward is hereby attached with for your perusal.
Sir, our clients wishes to express their rude shock and dismay when the news came to their hearing that the Isoko North L.G.A PDP chairman (Mr. Bernard Idisi) Sworn in Kingsley Obah as Chairman, Shirley Umukoro as Vice Chairman, Maxwell Erigbe as Secretary, Igiri Austin as Youth Leader, Mrs. Beauty Ughoro as Women Leader, Kingsley Odogbo as Financial Secretary, Okoro Imah Joseph as Organizing Secretary, Ojegbare Richard as P.R.O, Mrs. Paulina Okpe as Treasurer, Mrs. Victoria Ipori as Auditor, Lawrence Abeh as Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Oke Alomo as Ex-Officio, Larris Obu as Ex-Officio, Andrew Ofu as Ex-Officio, Omini Daniel Omuro as Ex-Officio, Friday Ugha as Ex-Officio, and Bridget Itebu as Ex-Officio as the valid Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) excos against the list of names duly recognized/approved by L.G.A PDP Oyede ward twelve(12) leaders which was confirmed by the national working committee (NWC) and singed by the national organizing secretary (Hon. Umar .M. Bature) of PDP. Attached here with is the photocopy of the document containing the names of approved ward executive committee members 2024 -2028 L.G.A Isoko North ward twelve (12) for your perusal.
It is the information of our clients that the selfish/dictatorial decision of the above mentioned persons wherein they secretly selected their cronies to represent Oyede PDP L.G.A ward twelve (12) does not represent the interest of the PDP Stakeholders /Leaders in Oyede PDP ward twelve (12) and as a result it has caused unimaginable conflict/division in Oyede PDP ward twelve(12).
Sir, we wish to refresh your memory and to bring to your notice that a similar issue occurred in PDP congress in year 2020 and our clients were aggrieved and protested and upon the prompt intervention of our dear leader late Hon. (Barr) Tim Owhefere as he then was, the issue was amicably resolved whereby our clients allowed the sleeping dog to lies for peace to reign in our party (PDP) and further concurred to stay away from such controversies for the interest of the party (PDP) and as a result, both Oyede PDP ward leaders consented to come up with a list of their respective wards which was merged together after due deliberation/settlement.
Our clients went forward to informed us that they are strong PDP stakeholders/faithful who contributed immensely to the victory of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in the last Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections. It is on record that our clients were instrumental to the overwhelming victory recorded for PDP in Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) during the elections.
Sir, our clients wishes to state categorically that they are not happy with the above inglorious, despotic, tyrannical and dictatorial attitudes of the above mentioned persons going against the decision of our clients which may lead to crisis in Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) and consequently, some aggrieved persons who have served the party faithfully will feel cheated and developed cool feet and work against the interest of the party in the forthcoming general election which we do not anticipate.
In view of the foregoing, we have taken pains to explain the grievances of our clients and we have their mandate to appeal to you with the following demands;
(1) We hereby urge and crave Mr. chairman indulgence as a matter of urgency to remove the names of the above mentioned impostors illegally sworn in by the above mentioned dictators/perpetrators and immediately swear in those persons whose names was approved by the Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) leaders at L.G.A level which was confirmed by the National Working Committee(NWC) of PDP and signed by the national organizing secretary of PDP within 14 days of your receipt of this letter forthwith for peace to reign in Oyede PDP ward twelve(12).
(2) That if our demand to restore the duly recognized/approved Oyede PDP ward twelve (12) excos names is not met within 14 days of your receipt of this letter, we shall be constrained to activate our legal missiles by setting the wheels of legal machinery on motion to seek redress in a court of law without hesitation.
(3) That henceforth there must be equal sharing/representation in all meetings involving ward 18 and 19 of Oyede PDP federal ward twelve (12) where major decisions are taken at the LGA and state level to avoid imbalance and disunity in ward twelve (12) affairs as our clients will no longer tolerate any act of marginalization/sidelining of Oyede PDP ward 18 members by the above named persons and their cohorts from Oyede PDP ward 19 who does not mean well for the unity, peace and progress of the party (PDP).
(4) We are absolutely confident in you as the state chairman of PDP who has been shown repeatedly to preach, encourage peace and tranquility in PDP, would not yield to the persuasion from politicians who do not champion the cause of justice but are only interested in using their God given opportunities to throw their people into uncontrollable chaos, legitimate crime and criminality.
(5) We strongly believe your chairman goals is to serve and lead a united PDP in Delta State and not a PDP in a State of comatose and bloodletting. In the same view, there is no governor or leader who truly loves and cherishes his people that would deliberately engage in actions or in-actions capable of fanning the ember of personal or communal hostilities (whether intra or inter). Indeed no price will be too great to ensure peace in all parts of PDP in Delta State and Nigeria in general.
(6) We kindly commend to you the biblical truth and admonition contained in the book of James 3:5 which provides in the King James Version thus; “Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth” The entrenched lesson from the above quoted scriptural truth is that a little fire is capable of kindling great fire. Therefore we respectfully urge you Mr. chairman to refrain from whatsoever planned illegal sub-changed/ removal of the duly recognized/approved Oyede PDP ward twelve(12) exco names and the sudden/subsequent illegal swearing in of the above mentioned impostors to represent the Oyede PDP ward twelve (12) by the above mentioned perpetrators.
Please accept our warmest greetings and the assurances of our best professional esteemed regards.
Thanks,
Yours Faithfully,
______________________
B.E. UMUKORO ESQ.
(Principal Counsel)
Cc:
1. The Acting National PDP Chairman.
2. Commissioner of Police Delta State Asaba.
3. The Isoko North Local Government Chairman.
4. The DSS Asaba Delta State.
5. The office of the senior political adviser to the Governor of Delta State.
6. The Area Commander Ozoro Police Area Command, Ozoro.
7. The DPO Ozoro Police Division.