PDP not in ICU, has learnt from past mistakes – Sen Ohuabunwa
* As Abia North stakeholders vow to rebuild party
By Steve Oko
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has declared that contrary to claims by some persons, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is not in any Intensive Care Unit, ICU, saying that the party is only passing through a process as a result of its past mistakes.
The former Leader, ECOWAS Parliament, made the assertion while addressing PDP leaders and stakeholders from Abia North during a meeting he convened at his Arochukwu country home on Saturday.
Senator Ohuabunwa noted that big lessons had been learnt from the fate of the party following internal sabotage that led to its woeful outing in the 2023 elections.
He, however, said that the party, contrary to wrong narratives in some quarters, “is very much alive” particularly in his Abia North district.
On the gale of defection that has hit the party, Senator Ohuabunwa likened PDP to a tree shedding off its old leaves that new ones might grow.
The Pro-Chancellor, and Chairman of Governing Council, University of Port Harcourt, further said that those who left the party had no justification to do so as no party is free from challenges.
He said:”PDP is not in the ICU. What happened was that God has been merciful to our party but we took it for granted. Some of our members stood aloof when others were contesting election. But now, we have come to our senses. Going forward we will behave well.
“We thought it was our right. In your party, you didn’t know that you were hurting yourselves.Today, how many of you are in the government house? Today, I don’t know how many of you that have access to anything from power. I don’t know how many of you are Commissioners. How many of you are SAs. But these were things we were having and we thought it was our right. Most times when you have something, you don’t know the value
Senator Ohuabunwa who said he was among the foundational members of the PDP, regretted that the PDP was united until 2003 when some persons with divisive tendencies infiltrated the party.
Ohuabunwa who said he had never left the PDP since its formation in 1998, urged the members to stay put irrespective of their grievances or pains.
The former Leader ECOWAS Parliament, noted that after the 2023 elections, he was angry when he realized that some members of the party sabotaged his bid to return to the Senate, but added that he had forgiven them and moved on with his life.
He, therefore, called for unity and cohesion among the party members, while urging members to eschew bitterness and betrayal.
“I’ve heard some confessions. People who were with us, planning election, and we thought they were with us but we didn’t know they were working against us. Did you not hear it?
“For two years now, personally, I decided to stay behind and watch developments and events. There are very few persons in PDP like me. Since we formed 1997-98 till today, I’ve never left PDP for one minute. “
He urged members to rather watch one another’s back and genuinely confront any anomaly, citing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Mr Nyesom Wike, as a true face of sincerity.
“I have a friend, the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike. He will call you and tell you exactly where he is at every point in time. When PDP was messing up, he came out and told PDP: for presidential election I will not go with you. I will follow this man. And he followed him. He didn’t go with PDP. He made his point. Today, is he not vindicated? PDP has zoned the presidency to the South. If we had done it that time, but we refused to do the right thing.
The former Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases, said he did not convene the meeting because he was contesting for any political office, but simply to strengthen PDP in Abia North and encourage members in the zone not to dispair.
“Let it be on record, I didn’t call this meeting because I am running for any office. I only called this meeting as a stakeholder to encourage our members to have faith in this great party. I’m not ready to go to any party for now. My party is PDP. Let’s sustain our party. Let our party be vibrant. Let our party be committed and dedicated to what we believe in.”
Ohuabunwa urged PDP members to be united and eschew bitterness and unnecessary strife which serve nobody’s interest.
“When I was in the House of Representatives, I brought Julius Beger, which is the highest construction company into Arochukwu/Ohafia road. But because the then President and our Governor had issues they came and withdrew the contractor.”
Senator Ohuabunwa blamed Abia PDP’s abysmal performance in the 2023 elections on the refusal of the party to cede its governorship ticket to Abia North against wise counsel, saying they had learned in a hard way.
Senator Ohuabunwa acknowledged the developmental strides of the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration in the state, saying God will not forgive him if he fails to admit the truth.
He regretted that some of the things PDP failed to address in Abia North had already received the attention of the current administration in the state.
“For us in Abia North, all of you knew what we fought for in the last PDP government. We were begging that it was time for Abia North to take the governorship slot. We all fought for it . We told them: we are going into election, please come and do some jobs in Abia North.
” But today, from what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen, most of those roads have been done by the current government. And, I cannot say, because I’m a PDP man, I should fail to acknowledge the truth. God will not forgive me if I do that.
“Coming to Aro is now shorter. Even the Omenuko bridge some people were dragging before and claiming to have attracted, has now been built.
“Everybody is clear today that for us in Abia North, things are better than what it was in terms of infrastructural development, especially road infrastructure. I’m not talking about party, I’m talking about an individual (Gov. Alex Otti) who has done it.
Senator Ohuabunwa canvassed support for Abia PDP Chairman, Elder Abraham Amah.
” Let’s support the state chairman of our party and members of the State Working Committee, SWC. They need our support.”
Ohuabunwa advised party leaders against inducements and exploitation of contestants, urging them to always provide level play ground for all.
“Let’s not be playing games. If you are a party leader, be a party leader. If anyone wants to contest, allow them to contest, and let the people decide. Let the best aspirant emerge. Don’t collect anything from them and begin to stammer in the end. As a leader, how can people trust you if you behave this way?
In his speech, the Chairman of PDP, Abia North, Elder Abraham Amah, charged members to remain faithful, steadfast, and committed to the PDP cause in Abia North and Abia State.
Elder Amah also urged members of the party to learn from the lessons from the 2023 general elections.
He said:”The mistakes and ill actions of some of our party members—which contributed significantly to our unfortunate and unforgettable outing in that election—have been well noted. We cannot rewrite history, but we can learn from it.
“The 2023 elections have now become part of the rich history of our party, and as responsible leaders, we must draw wisdom from both our successes and our failures.
Amah said “PDP remains committed to presenting credible, competent, and visionary candidates for every elective office in the coming elections.”
“We are fully prepared to reclaim lost ground and to re-establish PDP’s rightful position as the party of choice for our people”, he added.
Elder Amah commended Ohuabunwa for convening the meeting, and enjoined members of the party to all help in rebuilding the party for greatness.
“Your decision to bring us together at this defining moment demonstrates your deep commitment to the growth of our party, the unity of our leaders, and the collective progress of Abia North. We appreciate your hospitality and unwavering sacrifices for the advancement of our party and our people.
“Together, we shall heal, we shall rebuild, and we shall reposition the PDP for victory. Together, we will restore Abia North and Abia State to the path of dignity, progress, and prosperity,” Amah said.
In a remark, former Secretary to State Government, SSG, Abia State, Dr Eme Okoro, also emphasized the need for cohesion, collaboration and cooperation among members of the party.
The elder statesman who was very vocal about power return to Abia North in 2023 in line with Abia Charter of Equity, attributed PDP’s woes to the party’s failure to respect the power rotation arrangement in the state.
The former SSG who declared that he was still a card carrying member of the PDP, called for true reconciliation in the PDP.
Speaking also, PDP Zonal Chairman, Abia North, CHief Okereke Elendu, urged members of the party to put the past behind them and forge ahead.
He thanked Ohuabunwa for convening the meeting which he said, had demonstrated his genuine commitment to the progress of the party.
” It’s time for us to forget the past and focus on the future believing the past will not reoccur. We have been part of our loss and our greatness. We have suffered but we need to learn.
“This is a time for sobber reflection. We need to work collectively to rebuild PDP. We need to forget our factions and enmity that we created for ourselves”.
Former Commissioner for Basic Education, Chief Ukwu Rocks Emma, praised Ohuabunwa for thinking of uniting and rebuilding the PDP in Abia North district even when he had no political ambition, describing the action as a true mark of a leader
The former Commissioner described those leaving the party as self-seeking leadership, insisting the grassroots members of the party are still very intact.
” PDP roots which are the grassroots are very much strong”, he boasted.
Another PDP chieftain, Chief Ndukwe Orji, said Ohuabunwa had offered hope of restoration to Abia North PDP, and commended him for the bold step.
Ex-member of PDP State Exco, Chief Nnanna Oriba, said the meeting marked a new daw for PDP in Abia North, adding that it is a proof that the zome remain a stronghold of the party.
He advised politicians to always have a “second address and a fall back”, Oriba claimed that those leaving the party are driven by their stomach.
Several othe speakers eulogized Ohuabunwa for providing true leadership to the party in the zone, while urging members to recommit to the unity of the party
They expressed optimism that PDP would bounce back in the state.
Some of the stakeholders at the meeting were PDP legal Adviser, Kingsley Emeaga; former General Manager of Abia Line Network and PDP chairmanship candidate in Umunneochi in the 2024 council poll, Ugochukwu Uwaeke; and a former Deputy Chairman, Bende LGA, Hon. John Mark.
LGA and Ward Executives of the party in Abia North as well as other critical stakeholders from the zone including Dr Ndubuisi Eke, and Dr Isaac Nkole.
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