A leading candidate for the chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ), Raymond Dokpesi has said that he would treat with seriousness the issue of rebranding, reforming and re-inventing the party if elected
Dokpesi made this known in statement issued by his media aide, Omor Bazuaye after being endorsed by leaders of the party in Osun State.
He denied existence of any crisis within the party, saying what exist are pockets of “disgruntled people” trying to use institutions such as the courts or the media to derail the wishes of the people.
While positing that such antics would not stand, Dokpesi said majority of PDP members recognise Ahmed Markafi-led caretaker committee which plans a convention on August 17th in Port Harcourt that would produce new executives for the party.
Asked how he still finds the inner will to go round the country on a tour despite the allegations dangling around his neck, Dokpesi said under President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria suddenly returned to the dark era of 1983 when he ruled as 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 asked.
“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.”
On the issue of his trial with EFCC, Dokpesi answered with a simple analogy.
“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.”
Dokpesi however waved the allegations against him aside, confident that he would have his day in court.
