Ayu Boasts Akume’ll Be Back in PDP, Reiterates Commitment to Regaining Power

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and
George Okoh In Makurdi

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has disclosed that the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, would soon return to the party, even as he reiterated PDP’s commitment to regaining power in 2023.

Ayu stated this in Gboko during the defection ceremony of the House of Representatives member for Gboko/Tarka constituency, John Dyegh from the APC to the PDP on Monday.

He said Akume, the leader of the APC in Benue was a lost son of Benue in APC but wouldsoon be back to the PDP.

“Your lost son, George Akume, is coming back to the PDP. I am saying this based on what I know,” Ayu said, promising to personally oversee his return to the party.

“I earlier prophesied that Akume would hold broom and he did. Now I am prophesying that he will come back to the PDP. When he comes back, do not reject him but make sure you rehabilitate him, because where he is now, he is not thinking straight. He was a lost son, a prodigal son. Only rehabilitate him and make sure he thinks properly.”

Ayu, who noted that Dyegh was a prodigal son, who had seen the light and returned home, urged the PDP to heartily receive and accord him all the necessary support.

Governor Samuel Ortom of the state, who maintained that the APC had failed in all respects, welcomed Dyegh and all other defectors into the party and assured them that they would all be fairly treated.

Earlier in his speech, Hon. Dyegeh said he took the decision to defect to the PDP, because the National Chairman was his uncle and the fact that Governor Ortom has been doing massive projects in the state.

Senators Gabriel Suswam, Abba Moro and Oker Jev, in their separate remarks, noted that the PDP umbrella was large enough to accommodate everyone, while also harping on the need for all to be united to attract democracy dividends to the country and the state.

Meanwhile, Ayu, while speaking at the Inter-Denominational Thanksgiving Service organised in his honour by Benue PDP, raised the bar of his party’s expectations, come 2023, saying it was targeting a landslide win.

He declared that the major opposition party would record a clean sweep at the presidency, the two chambers of the National Assembly as well as a minimum of 25 governorships.

He also advised Nigerians not to lose hope, saying although the current APC leadership had failed woefully, PDP was coming on a rescue mission.

He, however, dismissed fears that Nigeria was headed for a collapse, assuring both Nigerians and the international community that a PDP administration post-2023 would pull Nigeria from the brink.

“We want Nigeria to take note, that we started this battle with 21 state governors. And we built it to 28 state governors. Those mistakes that were made, that made us to lose elections in 2015, will be corrected.

“And we target a democratic landslide, come 2023, with a clean sweep of the presidency, both chambers of the National Assembly and at least 25 state governorships with their Houses of Assembly. Do not lose hope because of a small collection of people, who have come to divide Nigeria and to destroy our country.

“keep hope alive. PDP is back. And PDP will be back with good governance and good policies. The economy will expand. Nigerians will come back to work. Nigerians will produce and export. Nigeria will be a great country, once more,” he said.