A close look at the historical background of PDP Nigeria – Austria chapter emanated as far back as the year 1999 when the government of the former chief Executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo came to power.  

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The political evolution of the June 12 1993 till when the decision by the powers that be in Nigeria to call a spade a spade and move Nigeria and Nigerians forward for positive progress and development led to the release of Olusegun Obasanjo from prison and the call on him to run for the position of the chief executive president of Nigeria under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria.

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Even before then, few Nigerian academicians and some other Nigerian business professionals from different works of life resident in Austria have started in small groups to nurse the idea of establishing relationship with the government at home (Nigeria) to enable them contribute to the development of the country. At that time the possibilities were rare and the environments in Nigeria were not favourable.  For instance, the presence of the military at that time was however, the major reason why the individuals and some groups of people who were interested could not catapult their wishes into reality on one side and most of them were vocal in constructive criticism on the military on the other side.

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In addition, many of those concerned fellows during the tyrannical period conducted and championed several public demonstrations and circulated letters to various world bodies and governments in one way or the other to demonstrate against the military regime in Nigeria and have sworn never to have any thing done with the Khaki boys. To crown it all, the names of some of them were already registered in the
“black book” or better say in the reference notes of the military in power.

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By the time the formation of the National Association of Nigeria Community in Austria took off in the last quarter of 1999, the “ten man committee members” Nigerians in Austria, precisely in Vienna nominated after careful selection to work out modalities to establish a national association, used that forum amongst other things and deliberated very widely on how Nigerians in Diaspora especially those in Austria could meaningfully contribute from far off (in overseas) to the adequate development of the country of Nigeria. However, they could not for one reason or the other come to any conclusion.

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In the year 2001/2002, some other young Nigerians (prominent among them was Mr. now chief David Wise Ibe - the present Publicity Secretary) also romanced the idea of establishing a branch of one of the homeland (Nigeria) political Party in Austria. The young man who had the vision and even championed it to some extent later either withdrew or withheld the idea after due consultations were made.

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Still in the same period up-till 2003 some of the leaders in the National Association of Nigerian Community Austria for instant then President of the National Association Mag. Dr. Adedeji-Aganga-Williams and then Secretary General Mag. Phil Samuel Ogbonna to mention just two made some private efforts in collaboration with some of their former colleagues during the formation of the National Association of Nigerian Community in Austria.

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Thereafter, some undisclosed contacts were established with some personalities in the Nigeria Polity, but then, some of them (see names aforementioned) who were involved decided to closely watch the utterances and the behaviours of the then founding fathers of PDP. However, some of those good Nigerians who participated far and wide in Austria in various discussions and at various levels with great concern over good governance and active participation in the development of Nigeria are also involved as founders of this chapter.

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Meanwhile, having watched the leaders of Nigeria and that of the Party and the things they were saying and doing in addition to their last call to all capable Nigerians in Diaspora to either come home or even in far off contribute to the development of Nigeria., the founders of PDP Nigeria – Austria Chapter namely, Chief David Wise Ibeji, Mag. Dr. Adedeji Aganga-Williams, Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu and Mag. Phil Samuel Ogbonna; the list also includes Madam Celina Otseme, as well as Mr. Solomon Akhigbe and Mr. Oluwasanmi Akinrinmade were convinced above all human reasonable doubt that the leaders of Nigeria government meant good for Nigeria and Nigerians, hence this positive development in Austria.

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It was on that note that the immediate names mentioned above started constructively and in practical forms and shortly before the end of 2004 put ideas together to call to live PDP Nigeria- Austria Chapter. On completing and concluding almost all the necessary things to be done, they then announced that the
PDP Nigeria – Austria Chapter has been born.

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Having done that, the founders put heads together and established a Protem Leadership Committee to pilot the affairs of the chapter till further notice. These personalities were Arch. Dipl. Ing. Remi Ofoedu (chairman) Mag. Dr. Adedeji Aganga-Williams (party leader), Mag. Phil Samuel Ogbonna (general secretary) and Chief David Wise Ibe (co-ordinator of events). Others were Madam Celina Otseme (women leader), Mr. Oluwasanmi Akinrinmade (financial secretary) and Mr. Solomon Akhigbe (treasurer).  

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The Birth