Over 140 members of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abiriba, Ohafia LGA of Abia State, at the weekend dumped their parties and joined the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State.
The decampees who declared for the PDP at Orieakwa square in Abiriba visited the Acting Governor of Abia State, Rt Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu in his office on Tuesday to assure him of their support for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu whom they said has performed very well in less than 3 years of being in office.
Receiving the decampees, Sir Oko Chukwu assured them of a level playing ground and full entitlement to all the membership privileges of the PDP.
“We are happy that you have retraced your steps and will ensure that you get all the privileges of membership of the PDP in Abiriba, Abia State and Nigeria. Our community, Abiriba, is known for industry, trade and good sense. As your brothers and sisters we wholeheartedly welcome you back to the big umbrella and call on you to ensure that all our people who are still being deceived return home to join us in building the Abia of our dreams. Governor Ikpeazu has demonstrated his love for us through projects and appointments and it is natural that we get all our people to support him in 2019 with our votes.”
In his speech, one of the decampees, Mr Ndukwo Ogba Onyeije, who publicly tore his APC membership card and displayed his new PDP card vowed never to be part of the lies and deceits of opposition parties in Abia State.
According to him, “I am ashamed that I allowed myself to be deceived into joining APC where there is no road and no good plan for our people. Today I am back home and happy to be a member of the party that is developing all parts of Abia State through the Caterpillar Revolution of Governor Ikpeazu. APC and APGA deceived us but now we know the truth and have seen the work the Governor has done at Aba where our people live, Ugwuezi road Abiriba and Abiriba-Nkporo road. Nobody can deceive us again.”
In his comment, Abia State Commisioner for information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, listed some of the projects of the Ikpeazu administration that were benefial to Abiriba people and promised that under the watch of Governor Ikpeazu whatever is due to the people of Abiriba will be given to them.
“Governor Ikpeazu’s Administration has favored our people enormously and the only way we can express appreciation to him is by acquiring permanent voters card to use in giving him 100% of our votes in 1999.
“Nobody can deceive our people again because they have seen and felt the positive impact of Governor Ikpeazu’s work on our people at Aba, Umuahia and Abiriba. We will not fall for the politics of lies and propaganda dished out by people seeking their personal interest but trying to sell it to us as Abiriba interest. Our interest, as Abiriba people, is the reconstruction of Aba where we live and do business as well as the development of our homeland which needs more good internal roads to ensure smooth movement during festive periods. ‘I will do’ is inferior to ‘I have done’ and whoever has not seen what Governor Ikpeazu has done for our people is free to continue carrying broom of sorrow or chasing after bird flu infected chickens.”
Earlier, the Deputy Chairman of Ohafia local government, Mayor Egesiri Eze Azu, thanked the decampees and presented them to the acting Governor who later handed them over to the PDP ward chairmen who were present at the auditorium of the Deputy Governor in government house Umuahia.
Other leaders of the Abiriba PDP who were present at the event, which was also attended by the State Commisioner for Boundary and Conflict Resolution, Chef Mascot Obike, includes Hon. Mandela Obasi who represents Ohafia North state constituency in the State House of Assembly, former Commisioner for Transport, Chief (Barr) Nnenna Obewu, Chief Sunday Ifeigbo, Chief (Mrs) Grace Agbara, aides of the Governor from the community and grassroots leaders from Abiriba.
