Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (middle) flanked by Governor of Bayelsa State; Seriake Dickson (left); Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike (2nd left); Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Emmanuel Udom (2nd right) and the Governor of Cross Rivers, Ben Ayade, during South-South Governor’s meeting in Asaba

Jethro Ibileke/Asaba

Five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South region, met behind closed doors on Sunday in Asaba, Delta state, where they perfected strategies to wrestle power from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State in the September 10 Gubernatorial election in the state.

Present at the meeting were Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and the host Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State .

According to the Governor, top on the agenda of the closed door meeting was the downfall of the APC in Edo, the only State not controlled by the PDP in the region. Okowa who addressed journalists at the end of the closed door meeting, said the forum was for South-South PDP governors, aimed at discussing issues affecting the nation in general and the party in particular.

“We have a very useful meeting and it is the first that we have had since we were sworn-in. We also discussed issue bothering on the PDP in Edo State, one of sister states. By the grace of God, we are putting our house in order to win Edo election.

“You recall that they have election in September and we try to map out strategies in order to strengthen the party in that state. We would not let the cat out of the bag now because we are putting things in shape at the moment,” Okowa said.

He disclosed that the governors also brainstormed on how to make the forthcoming national convention in Port Harcourt a huge success, just as he urged party members and supporters to remain united in order to have a hitch free exercise.

“You we recall that our convention has been fixed for Port Harcourt on May 21, and we are already putting measures in place for that convention. The Chairman of the Committee is governor Wike, and we call on our supporters and members of the party to desist from anything that would cause any form of crisis.

“We want to go as a united body to Port Harcourt because we stand by the decision to hold the convention at Port Harcourt. Plans have been put in place for a wonderful convention,” he added.

The Governor further disclosed that the security situation of the country, particularly the activities of rampaging Fulani herdsmen, was one of the major issues discussed at the meeting, adding that the South-South PDP governors resolved to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue.

He said: “First is the issue of security and we decided that there will be the need for us in the South-South to have a meeting with Mr. President. Those are issues we are not going to let out until we see the President.”

Okowa also disclosed that the South-South PDP Governors condemned in strong terms, last weekend attack on Chevron Oil facilities at Abiteye, delta State, by unknown persons suspected to be militants.

While describing the attack as unfortunate, he disclosed that plans were on to stem the tide of pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region