S’East plots to dump PDP

Posted by admin Party Politics, Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), South-East Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

A group of political leaders have begun moves to convince their counterparts in the ruling Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) to dump the party ahead of its national convention in January next year.
The group, which consists mainly of young political turks across the various political parties is led by one Chief Mathew Ezema and is known as “South-East for 2015.”

Daily Sun learnt yesterday that it had opened talks with “Ndigbo Lagos,” a socio-cultural group led by Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu and affiliated to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Designed to serve as a pressure group, it sprang up from the ashes of the recent affirmation of the PDP zoning formulae which was perceived to be skewed against Ndigbo and their interests.
The highest political officeholder of Igbo extraction in the present dispensation is the deputy senate president. The group considered the situation as “unfair and wicked.”
It was particularly irked by the “overbearing influence of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo in the affairs of the party, which it (the group) believed shut the zone out of the race for the chairmanship of the party.

At a meeting a fortnight ago, at a hotel in the Festac Area of Lagos, various speakers bemoaned the fate of Ndigbo and the machinations of the ex-president against the race, expressing fears that Ndigbo would never have a good deal in the PDP now or in the future. It sought to set up formal committees that would consult with Igbo leaders of note and institutions on the way forward.
It chose to push for a merger of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which is popular in the zone, and controls two states and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which is the ruling party in the South-west.
A source at the meeting said “the two parties should merge and then advance to the Middle Belt. That will provide an alternative to the PDP.”

As part of its strategic build-up, the APGA in Lagos was being persuaded to support the ACN-led government in Lagos. Formal moves to the ACN were, however, yet to be made by the group. But a leader of the ACN and one time chairman of the Lagos chapter of the PDP, Chief Olorunfemi Bashorun described the idea as a healthy development, which would forge deeper understanding and co-operation among the peoples of the South-west, South-east and North-central zones.

National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said though he was aware of the development, he was yet to give his blessings to it because it did not have the potentials of curbing the excesses of PDP.
Okechukwu, who is now in the Genaral Muhammadu Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said any political re-negotiation must be broad-based and must integrate all segments of the society and vital political structures without let. He expressed pessimism over the success of the project even as he observed that it was a step in the right direction.

Former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said it was noble and welcome. He told Daily Sun that “though, I have not studied its full objectives and composition, it is laudable. It is an idea that should be supported. I have always believed in a two-party system. If this works, that means the nation can get a strong party that can serve as a counterpoise to the PDP. ACN cannot do it alone. It is seen as a sectional party. The same thing for APGA. The two should merge and form a formidable force that will liberate Nigerians. You know I don’t belong to any party.”
The Administrative Secretary of Ndigbo, Lagos, Kalu Onuma, when contacted said he lacked the capacity to speak on behalf of the group on such a crucial policy issue.

Calls put to Admiral Kanu’s cell phone were not picked and the call not returned.
The group is, however, making contacts in the South-east and may touch down in Abia and Imo states this weekend. About five political leaders in each state were slated for consultations. They include, Imo–Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Ziggy Azike, Chief Achike Udenwa, Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho(rtd), Bethel Amadi. Abia – Chief B.P. Apugo, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Uzodinma Okpara, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Henry Ikoh. Anambra–Chief Dan Ulasi, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, and others.
Dr. Chudi Nwike, Senator Ikechukwu Obiorah and the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi diocese, Bishop Hilary Okeke.

Enugu-Chief Okey Ezea, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, Senator Ken Nnamani, Hon. U.S.A Igwesi, Mr. Frank Nweke jnr.Ebonyi- Dr. Sam Egwu, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, Chief Julius Ucha, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Chris Nwankwo, and Senator Offiah Nwali.
In the calculations of the group, a formal gathering will be organized for a denunciation of the PDP. “We have to wet the ground. It would be done piece-meal through periodic press statements by individuals which will give hint of what to come. We want to talk to PDP leaders as well. That is why we penciled some of them down. If it is one sided, then we have done nothing.”

A PDP leader and National Chairmanship aspirant before it was re-zoned to the North-East, who does not want his name in print told Daily Sun that the plot would be a tall task. He, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the position of Ndigbo in the PDP, saying that he knew that the sustained strangulation would someday rebound.
“This is a pleasant surprise. Our people have been kept in the cooler for long. They have no reason to be afraid.” But the PDP has already begun moves to counter the plot.
A directive emanating from the party is seeking deep co-operation from all the registered political parties except the ACN and the CPC. No reason was given for the exemption of the two parties.

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