I will mend fences in PDP – Dokpesi

One of the candidates seeking to emerge as the next National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , Raymond Dokpesi, has said his first major assignment if he becomes the next Chairman would be to demand all the reports on reconciliation that has to do with internal re-organisation of the party.

Fielding questions from journalists shortly after being endorsed by leaders of the party in Osun State, Mr. Dokpesi said he would treat with seriousness the issue of “rebranding the party, reforming and re-inventing it for better future for the party”.

Mr. Dokpesi in a release signed by the spokesperson of his campaign organization, Omor Bazuaye, also denied any crisis within the party.

He said what exists are pockets of “disgruntled people” trying to use institutions such as the courts or the media to derail the wishes of the people.

He said such antics would not stand.

Mr. Dokpesi said majority of PDP members continue to recognise the Ahmed Markafi-led caretaker committee which plans a convention on August 17 in Port Harcourt that would produce new executives for the party.

The statement also said Mr. Dokpesi “currently carries the burden of alleged corruption levelled against him by a government he has consistently criticised for inept leadership”.

Asked how he still finds the inner will to go round the country on a tour despite the allegations dangling around his neck, the media mogul said under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria suddenly returned to the dark era of 1983 when he ruled as a General.

He said similar persecutions, harassment and intimidation of politicians became the order of the day.

“You talk of court case hanging on my neck, court case, court case, where is my neck”, he said.

“In 1983, we saw it very clearly. The same thing happened .

“General Buhari came in as head of state and arrested every politician, locked them up, sentenced them, 200 years, 100 years, tried or untried.

“Madam, What’s my offence, what did they say was my offence?” he asked.

Mr. Dokpesi answered with a simple analogy.

“So if you go to a hotel with your friend and you go to the reception to say I want a room and then you’re given a room and you pay your room rate and then they come back and arrest the hotelier, they say the money you collected for this thing oh it is illegal money. Oh illegal money coming from CBN”, he said, refusing to speak any further on the matter since the matter is still in court.

Mr. Dokpesi however waved off the allegations against him, confident that he would have his day in court.