Delta: Elumelu’s Suspension Greeted With Joy, Mixed Feelings By Constituents

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

The one-month suspension of Mr. Ndudi Elumelu by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has been received with mixed feelings among his constituents in Aniocha-Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State.

Mr. Elumelu was suspended by the PDP for purportedly working at cross purposes with the party leadership in the emergence of the principal officers of the House of Representatives. He is specifically accused of working for the emergence of Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker and benefiting in taking the office of minority leader against the recommendation of the party of Mr. Kingsley Chinda from Rivers State.

However, in his constituency in Delta State, the news has been received with mixed feelings. This follows equally bitter experiences by his political foes who believe that he outsmarted the former occupant of the seat and popular tele-evangelist, Mrs. Onyemachi Mrakpor in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP primary last year.

One source said that the news of the suspension was followed by merriment as some constituents especially in Aniocha Olona and Isele-Uku rushed out to celebrate the news with drinks.

Mrs. Mrakpor has not spoken on the suspension, but among her supporters the news of the suspension of Mr. Elumelu was received with celebration.

However, not so with officials of the party, notably, the chairman of the state executive of the party, Mr. Kingsley Esiso who was sympathetic with the two term member of the House.

The suspension has also been condemned by stakeholders from across the state especially former members of the House of Representatives from Delta State who feel the state has been unfairly treated.

Constituents nevertheless feel that he became detached from the party after he lost out in the 2015 governorship primaries and was not active in party affairs.

Supporters of Mrakpor, however, believe that the support of the stakeholders for Elumelu is unjustified and that the House member should be allowed to carry his cross himself.

“We are heavily pained the way and manner Elumelu emerged candidate for the House of Representatives for Aniocha Oshimili Constituency.

“Our principal did exceedingly well and these same leaders worked against her, we are not happy at all, and Elumelu should be allowed to face whatever problems he is having at the House after all he has no regard for anyone,” a party loyalist who spoke on the condition of anonymity said.

Though Mrakpor appears to have moved forward, her supporters and especially those who benefited from her empowerment programmes see Elumelu’s problems as one opportunity to pay back the legislator.

That, however, is not to say that Elumelu’s supporters are laying back as a source said that they are also helping to remove the banana peels being strewn the way of the minority leader.

Stakeholders from Delta North had in a communique issued by Dr. Olise Imegwu, a former member of the House of Representatives rejected the suspension on Elumelu.

“The Suspension of Godwin Elumelu,a Member representing Aniocha Oshimili Constituency of our Party is an error which may have been informed by an ill- advised display of Counter Productive exhibition of Party authority, and we are trying to Comprehend the haste with which the Suspension was announced, especially on the face of Elumelu loyalty and in deference of the Party directive,” the stakeholders had submitted.

But the state chairman of the PDP, Barr Kingsley Esiso simply reacted thus: “the mouth cannot know peace until the rotting tooth is pulled out” disclosing that the suspension of Godwin Elumelu may have been the handiwork of his enemies.

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