PDP days numbered in Abia – Oyegun

The All Progressive Congress, APC says the days of the People Democratic Party, PDP in Abia is numbered as the state is finished under the party.

Speaking at the rally held at Umuahia Central Stadium, Tuesday, the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie Oyegun said President Mohammadu Buhari has done in years of his administration what the PDP could not do for the zone in 16 years.

He said at the national level, there is no single problem the PDP was solved, citing the conditions of Port Harcourt-Enugu and Enugu-Onitsha federal road which are still under construction.

“No question that there is hardship in the land, but every minute, President Buhari is working to rebuild the foundation of this country”, he said, pointing out that before now, there was no rail system in the country, but bow, there is a standard rail gauge being constructed by the present administration, an infrastructure he said is critical to economic development.

According to him, in the past, all were groaning but “today, 7000 mega watts is being generated and now on the road to increasing the power generation” in the country, stating also, “today Nigeria is self-sufficient in rice production”.

He said, “The bad days are coming to an end. The good days are beginning and by the end of this year, it will be better. We have a President that is focused”.

He re-iterated the promise by APC in the state that the next governor of Abia state will be from the party which will deliver the state and expressed his satisfaction with the turn out at the rally urged the party members to ensure they worked to make President Buhari’s second term bid a reality.

In his vote of thanks, a former PDP gubernatorial candidate, now in APC Dr. Uche Ogah said Abia state is finished, while the APC will use the broom to sweep out PDP in the next election, assuring that APC will produce the next three senators in the state, come 2019.

Ogah announced that he joined APC because he has seen a man that loves the country, “Buhari”, stating “the entire south east will mobilize to ensure he goes for the second term”.

“We will build a credible and competent opposition in Abia state and will join hands to ensure that APC succeeds in Abia”, Dr. Ogah said.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the party in the state Donatus Nwankpa while welcoming the guests promised to ensure that the state is swept by APC in 2019.

He however appealed for more federal presence in the state, stating that the phenomenal growth of the party in the state which a few years back was like wildness was evidence that it would go far in 2019.

Nwankpa noted that with four members of the Abia State House of Assembly including the immediate past speaker, Rt Hon Martins Azubuike, Isiala Ngwa North, Chibuzor Okogbuo, Bende South, Theophilus Ugboaja, Ikwuano, and Ikedi Ezekwesiri, Umunneochi , more would join before 2019.

In his speech, the facilitator of the rally and former governor of the state, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the rally was the beginning of great things that would happen in the party.

According to Kalu, “in 2015 we made below 6% but in 2019 we will make 75%. We have come to tell Abians that APC has come to rebuild the state. When I was governor I paid workers and pensioners. Democracy is about the people. I will do everything to return Abia to APC.”

Orji who is also the leader of APC in the state encouraged the members of the House of Assembly that joined the party not to fear any kind of molestation as the party would stand behind them.

Also speaking, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State encouraged the Abia APC to work hard to give him a second brother.

Other leaders from the zone that spoke include, former Governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime, among others.

The occasion also witnessed formal welcome of Forum of Abia State House of Assembly Lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC.

The four members of the state House of Assembly who decamped included Azubuike, Solomom Okogbue (APGA )Bende, Theophilus Ugboaja (APGA) Ikwuano, Ikedi Ezekwesiri (APGA) Umunneochi.

The presentation of the legislators and other prominent Abia politicians from the PDP and APGA was one of the major high point of the very successful mega rally.

With the defection APGA and the (PDP) lawmakers, the leadership of the state House of Assembly was said to have been jolted as the position of minority leader went to APC that hitherto had no member in the 24 member legislature.

Though President Muhammed Buhari was absent from the rally contrary to the continuous announcement by the organizers, the President was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr Gideon Samani.

By Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia