By Ann Azuka
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has charged youths and support groups of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to shun hate speech and ensure that their utterances were unifying and not divisive ahead of the campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
Okowa who is the Vice-Presidential candidate of the party gave the charge at the inauguration of the state chapter of the PDP New Generation held in Asaba.
The inauguration with theme “Politics beyond today, securing our future” featured swearing -in of State Executives and Local Government Area Executives of the group.
The governor charged the youths to ensure that every votes in the state was mobilised for the Atiku-Okowa ticket as the only party fully prepared to reset the country and bring it back to working ways.
Okowa, represented by the Senior Political Adviser, Mr. Funkekeme Solomon said youth development was one of the cardinal points of his administration.
He said, “As a support group, your first duty is to strengthen the party and the campaigns of the party because it is the party that is contesting elections and it is the party that must win.
“So you must develop your content. You need a good content to go far. I like to say that PDP in Delta State will harvest all votes available.
He remarked that his administration had ensured ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence in the state, adding that he would bring his wealth of experience in the state to bear on the country.
“So I urge your group to campaign with these issues and be rest assured that Delta is fully PDP. Work together with other support groups for the single goal of making PDP victorious at the center come 2023,” Okowa stated.
Keynote Speaker and State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, lauded the group for its efforts at creating a platform for youths and women to network and change the narrative of country.
He regretted that for decades, the youth and women have largely been onlookers and bystanders in the political affairs of the country.
According to him, the result is that they actively ceded the playing turf to the same old guards, octogenarians and septuagenarians who have literally lost both legs and limbs, the energy and vision to operate in the millennial age!
He said the youths were a critical resource, especially in political conscientization and mobilsation and urged them to organize themselves as the PDP re-positions to regain power come 2023.
He said the Atiku-Okowa policy document, “My Covenant with Nigerians” has a robust message and agenda that resonates with Nigerians, it is a policy document that speaks to the issues that are most concerning to the average Nigerian.
“If you fail or refuse to stay engaged, politicians would be inclined to continue to kick the can down the road and leave you empty and hollow – until the next election circle where their promises would be regurgitated all over again,” Aniagwu stated.
Director General of the PDP New Generation, Abdullahi Mahmood expressed delight with the Delta Chapter for the successful inauguration of the group in the state.
He tasked the executives to promote and defend the party, adding that the group was committed to delivering five million votes to the party nationwide and tasked the state chapter to deliver not fewer than 136,000 votes to the party.
Earlier, State Coordinator of the group, Efe Ani, said Nigeria was considered a failed nation because of the untold hardship brought upon the citizenry by the APC led Federal Government.
He said with rising insecurity and failing economy of the nation, it had become imperative for Nigerians to rise up and rescue the nation.
