Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The ruling Labour Party in Abia State, is now in the majority in the Abia House of Assembly following the defection of the only two Young Peoples Party, YPP, members in the House to LP.
Before now the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had 11 members, LP, 10; YPP, 2; and the All Progressives Congress, APC, one.
The decampees, Hon. Iheanacho Nwogu, representing Osisioma North State Constituency; and Hon. Fine Ahuama, representing Osisioma South State Constituency, have met with Gov. Alex Otti.
Meeting with the Governor late Tuesday night, they said leaving their former party would enable them join the Governor in deepening democracy at the grassroots for the benefit of their constituents.
The decampees were led on the visit by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Uchenna Okoro, representing Arochukwu State Constituency on the platform of Labour Party.
Receiving the new entrants into Labour Party, Governor Otti, while not expressing surprise, said that the two former members of YPP had always supported his administration right from inception, not minding their political affiliation.
The Governor noted that his administration has a different approach to governance, anchored on transparency, service and merit as evident in the confirmation of a non-Abian as a Permanent Secretary in the Abia State civil service. He assured the new members of equal opportunity with old members of the party.
“One thing that I have assured members of the House of Assembly is that because we are running a transparent kind of leadership, we will never come to you with anything untoward. We don’t have anything to hide because we are working for our people.
“Like I told them in Rivers State (where he commissioned a road project), when you are governing people and they’re not happy there’s something wrong with the leadership, this is because the essence of governance is stewardship, and I am happy because my people are happy,” Governor Otti said.
While announcing that the Labour Party will provide a level play ground for all, Governor Otti urged the lawmakers to work towards emptying the entire Osisioma people into the party for greater democracy dividends.
“So, I want to welcome you on behalf of our great party. I want to reassure you that this step is going to be one of the best decisions you have made.
“Our party has something peculiar, there’s nothing different between the old and new members, you are going to enjoy the privilege every member is enjoying. The Labour Party provides a level playing field for everybody, so you’ve come to the right place,” Governor Otti assured them.
He congratulated them for the bold step taken, adding that he is looking forward to receiving the Governorship candidate of the YPP Chief Enyinnaya Nwafor soon.
Earlier, while presenting the two decampees to the Governor, the leader of the House, Hon. Uchenna Okoro, said the two former YPP lawmakers had earlier during plenary announced their defection into the Labour Party, on account of the service-oriented leadership style of Governor Otti. He congratulated them for their courage.
In their speeches, the new Labour Party family members informed the Governor that they had earlier during plenary announced their defection into the Labour Party because of his monumental achievements in office. They pointed to the coming to life of the Geometric Power and several road projects that Governor Otti had executed in their constituencies in Osisioma, and the recently flagged-off Osisioma-Ekeakpara Road, which is one of the signature projects of the Governor in the area.
Governor Otti was joined by some members of his cabinet, including the Chief of Staff, Dr. Caleb Ajagba; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Uzor Nwachukwu; Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu; and Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, to receive the House members.
