Chief Emmanuel Ighomena is the deputy chairman of People’s Democratic Party in Delta State. He also represented Ethiope West local government area in the state House of Assembly. In this concluding part of the interview with SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Sam Akadoro at Oghara, he speaks on the challenges of his office since he became the number two man in his party in Delta State. Excerpts:
Many former members of PDP are defecting elsewhere; and a house divided against itself can’t stand. What is the party doing to reconcile former members?
Nigerians are not noted for the ability to bid their time. I am today the deputy chairman of the party in Delta State. In 2007, I left the office. Then I was the Commissioner for Power and Energy (2007-2011), I was not holding any office. That does not mean I had to leave PDP because I was not given another position.
When you are not playing, stand by the side of the field and clap for those playing. For some people is either they play, or they try to destroy the system. If you have never been a player, you will be selected. But do what is right and remain faithful. Some people they jump from one party to the other, simply because they want a place where they can contest. By so doing, they pass through the back door and not through the front, which is not always good.
How do you view the party defectors?
As far as I am concerned, those who left the party to join APC, ACN, ANPP and DPP have not done well. They should come back home, retrace their steps. It is God that gives power. If they have to be the governor, they can still become the governor from PDP and not only when they go to APC, DPP or wherever.
I would advice them to be patient, they should learn how to serve so they can be served.
How do you see the alleged inflammatory comment by the state PDP chairman, Chief Peter Nwaboshi, for candidates that lost the election to go to court?
I do not think he has said something wrong; you see for every word like that, you want to first understand the intention behind it. After losing, you do not have to call the winner a thief. It is their reaction. If someone after losing can afford to say, I have lost.’ Then the winner can therefore extend hand of fellowship to work together with them. But when you lost and are shouting that you were cheated, then the winner will equally tell you to go court. You cannot beg someone who is calling you a thief. So if they think the election is not in order, they should follow due process.
The issue of the local government election, would it ever take place?
If the election would not take place, why do you think the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission has been constituted? It is because the election will take place that is why that body has been put in place to conduct the election. And their constitution had taken place just a month or two and therefore from the time they were constituted till now, I do not think it is too long. You will agree with me that they needed to sit down and plan the election and work towards that election. If it were not going to take place, the body would not have constituted it. I want to tell you very well that they are strong and capable enough to see that the election is carried.
The post Delta LG poll on course – Ighomena appeared first on Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper - news,sports,politics,bussiness.