Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
A group known as PDP Frontiers for Change & Progress, has lambasted those criticising the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara over his genuine efforts to rebuild the party.
The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Hon.Ikpegbu Emeka-Yellow, described Wabara’s attackers as “APC moles and agents of destabilisation.”
“It is not only mischievous but a shameless display of political naivety for anyone to fault genuine efforts by Wabara to woo a serving Governor,” the statement said.
According to the group, if other political parties including the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; and the newly-formed African Democratic Congress, ADC, are rooting for Otti who is seen as a beautiful bride following his scorecards, there is nothing wrong in the PDP joining the fray to regain control of the God’s Own State.
The group, therefore, urged PDP leadership to disregard anyone attacking Wabara, describing them as “faceless political jobbers.”
It called on the national leadership of the PDP to ignore “these marabouts and fifth columnists with a mission to destroy the party.”
“Those fighting the PDP are using them to fight committed members like Senator Wabara and all genuine PDP members. Wabara is committed to bringing Otti to the PDP. The Governor is a beautiful bride. APC is also wooing him. ADC is wooing him. APGA is wooing him. Zenith Labour Party is wooing him. Everybody is wooing him. Why wouldn’t PDP also woo him?”
It also urged the national leadership of the PDP to support Wabara in his efforts to bring Otti and other progressives to join the PDP.
“We want the national leadership of our great party to join the BoT Chairman in his efforts to bring Otti into the PDP. There is no pretense about it, Gov. Otti’s eventual defection to the PDP is a big catch worth any sacrifice. And that’s exactly what Senator Wabara is doing.”
The group re-stated its confidence in the BoT Chairman and the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of PDP, while challenging those working against the interest of the party “to go to where they rightly belong.”
The statement further read: “It is despicable for anybody to begin to doubt the commitment and genuineness of Senator Wabara in rebuilding PDP. Is it a crime to go for somebody you consider an asset to the party?
“Even the ruling APC (All Progressives Congress), is busy wooing other Governors including PDP Governors. Is it that these mischief makers pretending to be PDP members are not in touch with realities or are they blinded by mischief and envy?
“Why is it that these APC moles in PDP don’t want to change ? Instead of appreciating somebody with genuine intention to grow the party, all they know is to resort to cheap blackmail out of envy.
“They should understand that Senator Adolphus Wabara is not their political age mate. He is a grandmaster in the game. As a veteran politician, he knows that PDP has nothing to lose but all to gain if the sitting Governor of his home state joins the PDP. Only a political amateur will fault his genuine efforts and patriotic spirit to reposition the party ahead of 2027.”
The group advised those calling for Wabara’s head, to rather subject themselves to his tutelage instead of advertising their ignorance of political re-allignments.
“Anybody who does not understand politics should sit down and learn from those who know the game. Wabara deserves commendation and not condemnation for his spirited efforts to woo his state Governor to the PDP. It’s only mischievous elements that won’t acknowledge that Gov. Alex Otti just like every other Governor is a beautiful bride for the opposition.
“How will these pretenders expect Senator Wabara as the BoT member to be quiet when his South-East zone that was once a stronghold of the PDP is without a serving PDP Governor? It’s regretted that the same agents of the APC responsible for the woes of PDP, are the ones shouting wolf where none exists.”
The group also described as ridiculous, the attempt to fault Wabara for chairing an event put together by his Ukwa la Ngwa clan where Gov. Alex Otti is expected to attend.
“It is nothing short of insanity for anyone to think that Senator Wabara, a former Senate President and an elder statesman, will sever his cultural affinity because of the name of politics.”
The group exonerated Wabara for commending the good efforts of Gov. Otti to rebuild Abia State, arguing that there is nothing wrong with acknowledging performance.
“If acknowledging performance is anti-party, how come that some members of the PDP serving in the APC-led Federal Government are openly praising and even campaigning for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yet these double-faced self acclaimed party chieftains have not called for their sanctions?”
“Wabara’s commendation of Governor Otti is a display of statesmanship, and cannot be faulted. Other party chieftains openly say the same thing because of visible evidence of performance which the BoT Chairman believes, can favour the PDP if the Governor agrees to join the party.”
