SDP Anambra Stakeholders resolve to enthrone the next President in 2019 ----resolves factions in Anambra, other South-East states

ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU reports that members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in South East at the weekend resolved that they would stop at nothing democratically to ensure that a true democrat assumes duty as the next President of Nigeria in 2019.


Rising from its First Stakeholders Summit at Finotel Hotel Awka , SDP stakeholders in Anambra state admitted there are no more factions in SDP in Anambra and other states in South-East as all disenchantment has been resolved in the interest of the party. The stakeholders agreed that all hands must be on deck particularly the youths and women to mobilize for SDP for the next round of elections to enthrone democratic leaders as Councillors, Local Government Chairmen , State and National Assembly members, Governors and the President.

Addressing the stakeholders on the prospects of SDP , National Vice Chairman, South East/ former Senator Representing Anambra Central in the Senate, Senator Ebenezer Ikeyina charged the party members to be prepared to take over governance in 2019 for social justice, democracy, equity and fairness to be enthroned in the society. Senator Ikeyina further appreciated all those who fought to ensure peace was restored to the party in Anambra state and other states in the South-East for SDP to be united under one big family prepared to take over the State from APGA and National from APC.


Senator Ikeyina while expressing his happiness on the turnout at the summit, said the Leader of Social Democratic Party, SDP/ former Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae is interested in the peace and unity of purpose of members in the pursuit of the common goal which is to take over government structures at all levels hence there is need for members to be focused.

 In their separate remarks, the Co-Chairman State Steering Committee, Dr Webster Okonkwo and his counterpart Co-Chairman, Hon Ikechukwu Nwekwe admitted that they have resolved to work together for the progress of the party in Anambra State and assured that everything about the party would be transparently done without malice or favouritism. Dr Okonkwo announced that Anambra State politicians have endorsed SDP based on the antecedents he witnessed during their local government tour, appealing to others who wish Nigeria well to join hands with SDP to enthrone a just government to be led by SDP candidates.

Speaking on re-integrating South East into National Politics, Dr Okey Ikechukwu, MNI, who is the Chairman Communication Strategy Panel SDP, encouraged politicians of Igbo extraction not to make personal enemies in the course of politics but to emulate the attitude of every Anambra man who no matter what, cannot kill because of politics. He said nothing has come the way of Ndigbo since 1999 democracy returned, even as the Enugu –Onitsha expressway remained dilapidated, hence there is need to use SDP to relaunch Ndigbo into national politics.


On their parts, the National Youth Leader SDP, Comrade Stanley Nwanka speaking on the future of youths in SDP and Hon Nneka Bosah speaking on behalf of women assured that in SDP youths and women are as a matter of policy duly represented in all aspects even as Comrade Nwanka added that leadership of SDP celebrates excellence above parochialism and partisanship. He emphatically insisted that Ndigbo must through SDP wake up to national politics, lamenting that the constitution knocked out youths from contesting any serious election until 35 years against what is obtainable across the globe, he appealed to youths to join SDP to stop the mess in Nigeria currently.

In his remarks, the Secretary, National Steering Committee SDP, Dr Ike Neliaku emphasized on the need for unity of purpose as exemplified by the two chairmen of the party in Anambra state, Dr Webster Okonkwo and Hon Ikechukwu Nwekwe hence the need for harmonization, expansion and not redundancy in SDP for future exploits in 2019.


In his opening remarks the Chairman, Summit Planning Committee, Chief Alfred Ekweozor described SDP as the most existing democratic party in Nigeria where rights and privileges of citizens would be respected accordingly and rule of law observed without compromise.

Also contributing, an Associate of Chief Olu Falae, the National Chairman of SDP, Prof Olusegun Sogberau who spoke in an impeccable Igbo language decried the constant pursuit of money politics by Ndigbo rather than pursuit for power politics and advised that power politics should be pursued rather than money politics which has benefited Ndigbo nothing, and there is enough money in Igbo land while Pietro Uzochukwu, a member of the State Steering Committee in an interview encouraged Igbo youths to see hope in SDP as it remains the only Political party with youth inclusiveness and political replacement generation plan.