Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho.
Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Works, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi has derided the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) his once political platform as incapable of delivering on the expectations, dreams and yearnings of Nigerians.
Fifteen years of uninterrupted PDP national administration, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi said, has failed to address the problems and the basic needs of the people of the country such as electricity and security.
The former Minister of Works who also retired as Group Executive Director (GED) Exploration and Production in the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC)delivered this devastating blow to his former political party at the occasion of his formal declaration for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benin City, Edo state last weekend.
At the occasion which witnessed unprecedented and unusual open defections of dozens of Benin Palace Chiefs to the APC, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi said after several years of unfruitful stay in the PDP he was convinced the party was not capable of taking the country to the Promised Land.
‘’After several years of unproductive sojourn in the PDP following my retirement from the NNPC, most Nigerians including me, are convinced that we have experienced more pains than gains from the PDP.
Fifteen years of uninterrupted PDP national administration has woefully failed to approximate the expectations, dreams and yearnings of Nigerians.
These lost years failed to address the problems and the basic needs of Nigerians amongst which are electricity and security.’’
While commending the effort of the APC- led government of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was present at the event with his Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and retinue of party officials that include Honorable Anselm Ojezua, the State Chairman of APC, Engr. Ogiemwonyi expressed appreciation for the demystification of the old order in the governance of Edo state.
He said the shouts of appreciation being heard today in every nook and corner of the state is a reflection of the gratitude of the people to Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s fearlessness in giving his today for a better tomorrow.
‘’This, more than anything else, symbolizes Edo Peoples gratitude to a man who has fearlessly given his today for our children’s tomorrow.’’
Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi did not also fail to note some of the antics of PDP leadership in the state.
‘’While you are leading and giving hope, your clownish adversaries are publishing vouchers for the purchase of kitchen utensils in government house.
While you are creating opportunities for our young people, empowering our hard working women your frustrated opponents are preaching hatred and divisiveness.’’
The people, continued Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, will not allow the hand of the clock of progress so far achieved in the state be turned back.
Nigeria is today at a crossed road politically, economically, socially, educationally and infrastructural, he lamented.
He expressed satisfaction that the arrival and consummation of the political marriage between several parties to form the Salvation Party- the APC, has restored hope to a beleaguered nation.
Engineer Ogiemwonyi who is aspiring to be the next governor of Edo state hails from Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State, same as Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu also aspiring for the same governorship seat.
Meanwhile the Edo State leadership of the PDP is yet to respond to this political development and verbal attack on the party’s administration of the country.
