Barely forty-eight hours before the much expected House of Representatives primary election, an Ughelli- Udu federal constituency top contender, Daniel Idonor declared that he had backed out of the contest.
The Aso Rock Villa senior journalist broke this news when addressing pressmen at the Ughelli Stadium venue for the primary election on Saturday December 6.
“In fact, I withdrew from the race yesterday (Friday); my ambition to represent the Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency came to an end yesterday, a day to the primary . I have to take that decision because I am a true, loyal and faithful member of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”
According to him, before embarking on the race, he had consulted an authority who advised him to go ahead. “
Before I started the race some thirteen weeks ago, I met somebody (name withheld) whom I told of my ambition and he asked me to go ahead and that he will be monitoring my campaigns.
“I have also been briefing that person on how far I have gone. It is that same person who again said I should withdraw from the race and give my votes and those of my supporters to Hon Solomon Ahwinahwin.”
“If a man who had wanted you to go into a race and who saw how, I have toiled day and night in the three local government areas for the past thirteen weeks, if that same person has called you to say step down, what else do you want to do ?
“As a humble person, I have never disobeyed my father, I have never disobey my elders, I have never disobeyed my friends on issues I know I can easily do. This is the reason I decide to step down.
“Then it was tough but again, I have asked God to strengthen me. As directed by my great party I have also appealed and asked all delegates who would have cast their votes for me, to vote for Hon. Solomon Awhinawhin.
Then most sincerely, I want to thank the leaders and elders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the three local government areas for standing by me through thin and thick and for their overwhelming support for me.
“Some of them have not known me before but each time I went to them and present my case, they were always baffled that there was still a son like this in Urhobo land! So, I thank them all.
“I also want to thank the leadership of the party at the state. I thank his Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is the leader of the party in the state; I thank the youths; I thank the women for their overwhelming support. I must say that it was that support that had kept me thus far.
“There is so much in the future. Tomorrow or another time, I may still come to them to ask for their support, they should continue to give me that support.
“My friend in the media were just too wonderful, they stood by me throughout this period, my wife, my children who made dangerous sacrifices. For the past thirteen weeks, I have not really seen my children; it had never been like that before.
“I thank my friends from within Nigeria and abroad, I thank the clergy, who stood by me from the beginning to this time because I am a Deacon in Living Faith Church. May the good Lord bless them and reward them exceedingly.
“Above all, my creator, the Almighty God who started me and stood by me till very end, thank you Jesus. I will forever remain grateful to the some two great world class brothers and friends who funded the campaign from the beginning to very end. You guys are simply great».
It would be recalled that this is the second time that Daniel Idonor is stepping down for other aspirants.
First, it was last year, he was directed by his party, the PDP, to step down for Senator Emmanuel Aguarevwode, during the Delta Central senatorial bye-election.
