… PDP should be ashamed of itself – COSEYL
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The controversy trailing the commendation by the former Senate President and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, on Governor Alex Otti for awarding the Port Harcourt Road Aba to Julius Berger, has taken another twist as the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has joined the fray.
Similarly, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has also berated the PDP for attacking the former Senate President and elder statesman over his honest and fair comment.
Recall that the former Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, had frowned at the N30b contract sum of the 6.8 kilometer road but Wabara in a swift response, advised the Abia PDP against unnecessary criticisms in the name of opposition.
He argued that the Governor rather deserved commendation for even resolving to fix the road and disclose the contract sum.”
Senator Wabara said that Otti had already secured his second term ticket by embarking on the project which previous administrations were unable to handle.
The former Senate President also said that N30 billion should not be considered too much for the project considering the caliber of the contractor.
But the Abia State chapter of the PDP, descended on Wabara over his comment, accusing him of attempts to get Otti’s attention.
PDP Vice Chairman and Acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, said that Senator Wabara could not deliver his booth to the PDP during the election, warning him “to be mindful of his conducts and statements.”
Commenting on development, the immediate-past Chairman of APGA, Abia State and the incumbent National Vice Chairman of the party, South, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, said “PDP should hide its face in shame.”
He accused the PDP of criticising Otti out of envy and for dwarfing its achievements within four months in power.
Ehiemere said it was shameful that the PDP which was in power for over 20 years in the state could not fix the road despite all the huge funds that accrued to the state under its watch.
He said the party had no moral grounds to criticise the Governor who within four months of assumption of office, did what PDP could not do in 20 years.
“God has answered Abians by giving them a man to clean their tears. God forbid that PDP should return to power in this state after its decades of abysmal performance. PDP was a curse to Abia and must not be allowed to return.”
Ehiemere challenged PDP to disclose the cost of the flyover it built at Osisioma and compare it with the significance of the Port Harcourt Road before raising eyebrows over the cost.
“If Otti can have the mind to invest N30 billion to fix Port Harcourt Road and make it motorable again considering its economic importance, Abians have no quarrel with that. After all, why did PDP not fix that road with the $25 million World Bank fund? They should hide their face in shame!
“Senator Wabara spoke the bitter truth as an elder. Everything is not politics. At his age, he should be able to speak his mind and not talk like a sycophant. He knew that PDP failed, and that Abians are not happy with them.
“So, the attack on Senator Wabara is uncalled for. What he said was right. PDP should allow Otti to fix Abia, and stop distracting the Governor.
“The truth is: If Otti will complete the Port Harcourt Road; fix other important roads across the state; pay workers as he is doing; wipe pension arrears before December as he promised; pay pensioners full and not half like Okezie Ikpeazu; provide security and make the hospitals work again; everybody will be happy with him.”
COSEYL in a statement by its President General Comrade Goodluck Ibem, argued that Senator Wabara’s support for Gov Otti “confirms that he is a true lover of Abia.”
The Igbo youth body said that Wabara “deserves commendation by all for standing for the truth.”
COSEYL commended Wabara “for appreciating the giant stride achievements of Governor Alex Chioma Otti whose four months of credible performance has surpassed the 8 years of the former administration.”
The statement read: “It is very unfortunate that some persons just because of their selfish interest will choose to attack the former number 3 citizen for saying and standing for the truth on Governor Otti’s groundbreaking performance.
“The former administration of Okezie Ikpeazu after 8 years in office could not construct Port Harcourt road and Governor Otti just within 4 months in office brought the best international construction company Julius Berger to construct the road and someone is attacking Chief Wabara for speaking the truth because he thinks he is playing politics.
“Those people attacking Senator Wabara should bow their face in shame for turning a blind eye on the truth.
“Senator Wabara spoke the minds of Abians when he said that, “Governor Otti has secured for himself a second term ticket for bringing Julius Berger to construct Port Harcourt road in Aba. That statement by Chief Wabara despite being a member of the opposition party in the state clearly shows that he is a man of integrity.
“Governor Otti has proved his out-and-out commitment to the process of rebuilding Abia, prudently and cautiously executing projects that have direct bearing on the people that would ultimately produce a New Abia of our dream, in line with his campaign mantra and the dream of the founding fathers of Abia.
“Dr. Otti is brilliantly and judiciously poised to continue to shock and shame those opposed to a New Abia, who swore not to uphold the truth, if only for the sake of God.
“He will continue to show class in providing quality leadership and good governance with monumental and impactful projects that are on ground and verifiable, rather than media-creations that characterised the deceitful and visionless past administration.
“We call on those who are crying wolf because their feeding bottles have been removed from their mouth to go and look for a decent job to do because there is no more sharing of our commonwealth.
“Governor Otti has done exceptional well and we stand solidly behind him as he takes Abia state to the next level.”
