The former National Deputy Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, has said that the party is leading the state to ruin by running a family government in the state. Dr Cairo Ojougboh stated this in Agbor on Saturday, September 16, 2017 when some leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State and beyond, came to coax him and his followers who were hitherto loyal to the Senator Sheriff Modu leadership of PDP into joining the APC.
According to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, “it pains me leaving PDP because I am one of the founding members who grew and nurtured the party in the state, but I have no regrets because I am out to fight against the injustice and slavery by the PDP government in Delta State. The PDP in the state is running the government like a family business which to me is the highest form of corruption. The PDP government in this state (Delta) should explain to us what happened to the #20billion (Twenty Billion Naira) Paris Club fund it has collected since it came on board in 2015.It should also explain to us why workers are owed more than twelve months salaries. We have made up our minds to join the progressives, the APC, where we will together bring good governance to the doorsteps of our people. We are going to chase out the PDP government in 2019. We are going to join hands with the progressives to promote good governance in our state. Okowa and his cronies must be chased out come 2019”.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said he was sent by his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari to Agbor to appeal to Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and other PDP members loyal to the former national chairman of the party, Senator Sheriff to join APC. He described APC as a party of progressives who believe in the growth and development of Nigeria, stressing that Dr Cairo Ojougboh and his followers should not hesitate to join APC for it is strongly committed to the well being of all Deltans. He expressed optimism that APC will take over the governance of the state in 2019.
Other APC leaders such as Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and Engr. Enuha, in separate remarks described Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as a seasoned politician whose political prowess is needed in APC. They disclosed that the leadership of the party in the state is working round the clock to ensure that it sacks the PDP government in 2019.They congratulated Dr. Cairo Ojougboh for considering joining APC, assuring him that the party is fully prepared to welcome him and his followers.
High point of the event was the tearing and dumping of PDP cards into a waste basket by Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and his followers.