Joe Effiong, Uyo
The Integration and Harmonisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Akwa Ibom State, recently constituted by Governor Udom Emmanuel has reaffirmed its commitment to address the concern of all the aggrieved members of the party.
Chairman of the committee and former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Patrick Ekpotu, said to achieve this, the committee has opened various lines of communication with the aggrieved party men and women in the state for quick resolution of issues bordering on their grievances.
Ekpotu said committee was different from the conventional reconciliation committee as it was constituted to put the PDP family in order by strengthening one another’s faith so as to move with a unified front by standing together, and working as indivisible family in the coming election.
Members of the committee are also to heal wounds, by recognising and taking steps to persuade and assuage the feelings of disillusioned and hurting Party men and women who are negatively impacted by party policies, actions and by perceived conscious or unconscious leadership shortcomings and bring them back in harmony with the party spirit of accommodation for the common tasks ahead.
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The committee is equally to seek and secure the integration of every segment of the state electorate in the scheme of things- irrespective of party extraction or affiliation, by enlisting their support, giving a sense of belonging and advancing the one-state-one-interest philosophy of the governor.
Furthermore, the committee is to continually interface with the Governor who is also the part candidate and the Party for actions on key agreements, understandings and recommendations reached that require urgency in the overall interest of the State and success and integrity of government.
The chairman said the committee would adopt a transparent open-door approach, by making it easy and convenient for the people irrespective of educational, social or economic standing to make their representations to the committee without any encumbrances.
“We shall invite/dialogue with individuals and groups known or suspected to be aggrieved; and interact with various Party groups from each Local Government Area to unravel the full depth and ramifications of grievances peculiar to each constituency; and then determine the best possible courses of remedial actions.”
Ekpotu said the committee had resolved to immediately invite political stakeholders of selected flash point constituencies including chapter and wards chairmen, chapter secretaries, council chairmen, state and National Assembly members etc.
“To give people a sense of belonging, the Committee shall, to the extent possible, visit constituencies and local governments, or such other strategic venues in pursuit of this task.
“Given available time for this task and our emphasis on flash points and hotspots, we have created three platforms where complaints by all aggrieved party men and women within and without, would be lodged to the Committee.
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“Such complaints shall be promptly attended to, complainants invited or visited, complaints treated and necessary understanding towards resolution reached for harmony to take roots.” he stated.
Ekpotu said the committee would adhere to the governor’s directed to keep track of and bring up a comprehensive report on all Integration/Harmonisation understandings reached with individuals/groups and promises/concessions made for eventual utilisation.
“This is to help overcome oversight frailties during implementation/fulfilment when elections are over. After all, as he insists, in ‘our father’s house’, are many mansions to accommodate all.
“This is therefore a remarkable moment for all aggrieved Party men and women to take full advantage of this rare Party opportunity. Especially now that the march to renew the PDP mandate in the State is negotiating the last bend to election,” he declared.