By Eseoghene Emuke
A former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, has resigned from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Orubebe, who hails from Burutu in Delta State, hinged his resignation on the recent primaries of the party and failure to zone the 2023 presidency to the south.
His resignation is coming after Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, emerged as the running mate to PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Orubebe has been having cold war with Okowa over his style of leadership in Delta PDP.
The former minister in a letter to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchai Ayu, observed that recent events within the party revealed that PDP was not ready to regain power in 2023 elections.
A copy of the letter dated 20 June, 2023, which was obtained by NIGER DELTA TODAY is titled, “Resignation From People’s Democratic Party (PDP)”.
“I write to formally inform you of my resignation from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP). This have communicated to the Chairman of Burutu Ward 3, Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, effective 20th June 2022.
“Consequently, I am by this letter intimating you of my total withdrawal from all activities at the Ward, Local, State and National levels of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP)”, the letter read.
While giving reasons for his resignation from the party, Orubebe said, “I am highly honoured and privileged to have been part of a political party that successfully transformed a pariah nation to one that commanded respect in the comity of nations.
“When we lost the Presidential election in 2015 in bewildered circumstances to say the least, it was my belief that the party would use the opposition period to re-strategize with the aim of taking back power at the earliest opportunity.
“However, the present situation in the party does not inspire confidence that the party is ready to regain power in 2023. Against the mood of the nation and in complete disregard to the provisions of the party’s constitution, the party, threw the zoning of the Presidency open, which created a situation that led to the emergence of a Northerner as the party’s Presidential flagbearer, thus making the two topmost positions in the party, after your emergence as the National Chairman, to be occupied by Northerners, contrary to section 7.3(c) of the party’s constitution.”
Orubebe, however, commended the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for his performance during the presidential primaries of the PDP where he came second.
“I salute and commend the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for his efforts and gallantry at the primaries. Posterity will be kind to him when the history of the party is written. There are lots to be said, but out of respect for the party, I leave some stories untold at this time.
“My belief in the sanctity of Nigeria is unshaken and I will continually work for her progress and development, even if it is through another route”, he added.
