The Anambra state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the return of Presidential Liaison officers in the states, particularly Anambra, and other states where the party is not in power.
The call was part of the findings and recommendations of the party’s Harmonization, Peace and Reconciliation committee led by the immediate past Chief Judge, Justice Paul Obidigwe.
The committee which was set up by the state executive committee led by Prince Ken Emeakayi mid-March this year, during the handing over of its report yesterday, stated that the need for the Liaison officers was borne out of their findings in the course of their work.
Obidigwe who handed the report to the party chairman in the presence of other executives at the party office late yesterday said they observed that due to the absence of a PDP governor on ground, the SURE-P programme, farm inputs/enumeration of farmers, relief materials/funds distribution for flood victims and other such democracy dividends were clearly mismanaged because they were handed over through a non-PDP administration.
The retired jurist pointed out that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration that handled the programmes used them as “tools of victimization to non APGA members”. He therefore appealed for the consideration of the establishment of a Presidential Liaison Officer for the state to supervise and handle such issues henceforth.
The committee while thanking the party for finding them worthy to serve, poited out that whereas most of the stakeholders invited appeared and made very useful contribution and suggestions, some neither met them nor sent in written briefs.
The committee’s mandate was consequently extended to the Local Government and Ward levels as part of the implementation of the recommendations.
Emeakayi assured the party would implement all the recommendations without let.
He left Awka yesterday with copy of the report for submission to the party headquarters this morning.
