Sen Ohuabunwa clears air over alleged anti-Atiku remarks

Sen Ohuabunwa clears air over alleged anti-Atiku remarks

By Steve Oko

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senatotrial candidate for Abia North in 2023, Senator Ohuabunwa, has refuted media reports that he said he would not support or campaign for the PDP presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.

Ohuabunwa in a statement by his Campaign Council, described the alleged media report as  mischievous and the handiwork of detractors whose intent was to blackmail him.

The statement signed the Assistant Secretary of the Council, and former Arochukwu Council boss, Princely Kingsley Ngunu, urged members of the public to discountenance the said remarks.

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  senatorial candidate for Abia North district, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, has been drawn to a purported ultimatum  by one Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, ordering theDistinguished Senator to withdraw a purported statement where he was alleged to have said he would not support or campaign for the PDP presidential candidate, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar.

“Chief Ogbonnaya had in the said ultimatum, accused Senator Ohuabunwa, and Honourable Nnenna Ukaeje, of making anti-Atiku remarks, mandating them to withdraw the said statement within 48 hours or he would mobilise his supporters and Abia voters against them in 2023.

“Ordinarily, Distinguished Senator Mao Ohuabunwa would not want to join issues with Chief Ogbonnaya, but doing so has become imperative for the purpose of putting the records straight. Senator Ohuabunwa, without equivocations, wishes to dissociate himself from the purported statement maliciously credited to him. There was never a time he said he would not support or campaign for Atiku, who he even has a personal relationship with.

“Those peddling such unfounded lie against the senator should be courageous enough to produce evidence of where he made such a statement. It is both laughable and unthinkable that Ohuabunwa, who is also a candidate in the forthcoming election will be, at the same time mounting a campaign against the presidential flag bearer of his party, when, in fact he has started canvasing support for all PDP candidates.

“It’s not in contention that Atiku is the only presidential candidate of the PDP, and what it implies is that every candidate of the party will naturally support his victory at the poll.

“We, therefore, wish to urge members of the public to discountenance the purported statement which is only a figment of the imagination of the peddlers.

“Senator Ohuabunwa’s logical position that the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, should resign based on equity should not be misconstrued. This position which is shared by many progressives, stems from the fact that at a time when we are protesting against Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, PDP should not be seen to be promoting political exclusion. Ayu should resign to give the South a sense of belonging. Ayu himself said he would resign if the presidential flag bearer comes from the North. So, he should honour his words, and for the sake of equity and justice.

“We, also, wish to advise mischief makers to desist from campaign of calumny and blackmail again Distinguished Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. We will not tolerate any attempt by anyone or group to use him to settle political scores or curry unnecessary favour.