When Jonathan welcomed Orji into PDP

THOUGH it was a rally to receive Abia State Governor Theodore Orji back into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it could as well pass as a gathering to sell the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan for the office of president in 2011, reports Assistant Editor (News) OLUKOREDE YISHAU



THE Umuahia Township Stadium started receiving guests from as early as 8am. Before then, policemen, civil defence corps, mobile policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) had taken positions at strategic parts of the capital of Abia State. Street sweepers moved from street to street ridding them of dirt.

As from Friday, August 27, hotels had been fully booked. Walls of public and private property were defaced with posters and banners. The bulk of the posters and banners were of myriad organisations campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan to return as president in 2011. They bear all kinds of names such as Better Nigeria Movement, Goodluck Nigeria and so on. There were also posters saying ‘Orji can’t stop Orji.’ This is a play on the surname of the state’s former governor, Orji Kalu and the sitting governor, Theodore Orji—who have fallen out politically. And for those who may be querying the rationale behind Orji’s move from Progressive Grand Alliance (PPA) to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and then to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), member representing Aba North at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Joe Mgbeh, commissioned a leaflet explaining ‘the change from PPA to APGA now PDP.’

Mgbeh said: "His Excellency, Chief T. A Orji, the executive governor of Abia State, like Moses in the Bible who was brought up as Pharaoh’s prince, forsook all the luxury and comfort of Egyptian kingship and told "Pharaoh" that PPA is dominated by people of insatiable appetite of their own only. Not the interest of the people that called for "Point Blank ‘let my people go…’ At first he led them near Jordan, APGA though fertile land, but the people must go to the promise land (Canaan) where his Excellency Ochendo said is full of milk and honey, where he will bring the federal presence, where he will bring prosperity for the entire Abians, above all where the dividend of democracy will be assured PDP.

"Ochendo has effected the change and caused Abia-God’s own people, the children of God to rejoice— which means he is experienced, he has the good will but what he doesn’t have is time. So let us with charity support Ochendo onward 2011 bid, so as to give him the needed time. The change he has brought to Abia is a divine project. He is on the Lord’s side, let him ride on."

That Saturday, August 28, youths bearing vest with the picture of Jonathan and Governor Orji, who was that day formally received into the PDP by Jonathan, marched from streets to streets telling those who cared to listen that Jonathan and Orji must both be re-elected in 2011.

While Jonathan was yet to leave Abuja, the stadium was already filled to the brim. But popular high-life musician, Bright Chimezie was there to cool their nerves with melodious tunes.

But it was not until about mid-day that Jonathan came in. Signs that he was soon to emerge had surfaced when Vice President Namadi Sambo came in. With Jonathan in, the event started, with the traditional breaking of kolanut, which was passed round key chieftains of the party.

Speakers after speakers, such as National Chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo, the immediate past PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Governor Martin Elechi, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, and Hon Agwu U. Agwu of the Abia House of Assembly, took the stage and did nothing but sing the praise of Orji and PDP. They described their party, as usual as the biggest in Africa. They also added that it is "the party that puts the food on the table.’’

Nwodo, who a month ago made the first move to woo the governor into the party, said that the party had finally found its missing rib. "This is a historic occasion that will usher in good governance in the state. What we are seeing here today can only be done by God alone," he said. He later handed over the PDP flag to the governor.

President Jonathan, who was the last to speak, restated his commitment to free and fair election in 2011 even as he charged members of his party to work hard to achieve that in order not to be queried by the international community.

Jonathan said he was passionate about his party but that it had nothing to do with the elections. "We have to do what is right in order to continue bring good leaders," he said.

"I have to thank PDP elders in Abia for what is happening today. Let me specially thank Chief Onyema Ugochukwu for making this event possible, because he was the one that contested election with the governor and there are so many litigations in court over the election. Without him dropping the suits, all we are witnessing today would not have been possible."

He said: "Our primaries is an election before election and once we do that we will go and start celebrating. "The whole of South East is a critical place and I have never seen a people that work hard like the Igbo. If you remove men and women of Igbo origin doing business in Lagos, Lagos would go into oblivion."

Jonathan further said that now that PDP has got Abia, the next target is Anambra, which he said would join in no distant time.

Orji had earlier assured Jonathan of total support. He said: "Abia is number one in your support. You are anointed. If there are people who will not support the president, let there be confusion in their camp. I have come back to PDP. If I have problem I can freely go to him and say help us. When I was in another party, he could say that helping us is anti-party (activity). But today it will no longer be anti-party to help members of your own party."

He castigated those who are working against Jonathan’s emergence in 2011 and expressed his belief that God would see Jonathan through to Aso Rock in 2011.

The crowd of commoners and dignitaries soon dispersed and Umuahia became its quiet self once again. It remains to be seen if opposition within the PDP in the state will make things smooth for the governor or ruffle feathers with him in his quest for a second term in office.

For now, he seems to be the man with the ace- despite the opinion of APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh that the governors has betrayed Ndigbo by returning to the PDP.




Share this Article: Add to your del.icio.us del.icio.us Digg this story Digg Add to Technorati Technorati Add to Facebook Facebook