Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Abia State, Senator Emma Nwaka, has blamed the collapse of PDP in the state on the weakness of the party leaderships that emerged after him.
He regretted that his successors could not sustain his legacy of party supremacy but surrendered their authority to government officials as a tool of oppression against perceived opponents within the party, hence the current ordeals of the party.
Senator Nwaka was reacting to the gale of resignation that has hit the state chapter of the party, describing members exiting the party as “food-is-ready politicians.”
Recall that a number of former PDP bigwigs including a presidential aspirant and former Deputy Speaker Abia House of Assembly, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe; former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji; ex-lawmaker, Hon. Jerry Uzodike; former Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo; among a host of others had resigned their membership of the party.
While some defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, some joined the ruling Labour Party in the state, while others are yet to disclose their next destination.
Reacting to the development, Nwaka who said he was not surprised at the goings-on in the party, however, blamed some party officials for the woes of PDP in Abia.
He recalled that while he held sway as the party chairman in the state, he was able to rebuild the party but regretted that those who came on board after him, reduced themselves to stooges in the hands of some self-conceited government officials.
He said: I am not surprised at all with the turn of events. What you’re witnessing is symptomatic of food-is-ready politicians. Instead of rebuilding the party they destroyed, they have chosen to become mere tenants elsewhere.”
Asked how the said decampees destroyed the party, the former PDP boss said:” I am sure that you have heard that PDP, Abia State was comatose as at 2010 when I was head-hunted to come and rebuild it.
“Without thumping my chest, it is right to say that my team and I did a good job of the assignment. My five years at the helm have been described as the golden years of the party. I returned the party to its winning ways. During my time, party affairs were conducted from the party secretariat and party members had a say but the moment I turned my back, all that changed.
“Party officials, after my exit, lost control. They started taking instructions from a few government officials, who weaponised the party against perceived enemies within the party. They sat in Umuahia and decided who would be an officer of the party at the ward level.
“As if that was not enough, the three Senatorial Structure of the State became non-existent in their minds and ceased to be the basis for the allocation of offices.
“Abia, for them, was made up of old-Bende and Aba Districts. In the process, Abia North Senatorial Zone, was alienated. All these and more, laid the foundation for the death of the party.
“Instead of making efforts to rebuild, the food-is-ready politicians chose to abandon their sinking ship.”
On whether he is still in PDP or also planning to leave, Nwaka retorted: “The once vibrant party is now a ghost of itself. To remain there would be like having a one-man party. So, I have decided to join the Siddon Look Party ( SLP). New members are welcome. We’ll soon build it into a formidable party: Better to build than to destroy- is our motto.”
