Finally, Ex-Anambra Gov, Obi, Joins PDP

Finally, Ex-Anambra Gov, Obi, Joins PDP

The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, tuesday declared his membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he played host to who-is-who in the party in the South-east at his Onitsha home.
Prominent among them were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; and the Chairman of the South-east Governors’ Forum, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State.
Others included the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Godswill Akpabio; Governor Martins Elechi, who was represented; former Governor of Enugu State, Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara; Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Emma Anosike, Senators Hope Uzodimnma, Ben Obi, Igwe Paulinus, and former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe.
Also in the team were Hons. Ozongbachi, Offor Chukwuegbo, Uche Ekwunife, Chris Azobogu, Fort Dike, Jerry Alagboso, Toby Okechukwu, Kingsley Ebenyi, Onyechi Ezenwa, Eucharia Anazodo, Chuma Nzeribe, Princess Adaeze Oduah, Arua Arunsi, Egwuatu Cyril, Anayo Nebe, Col. Akobundu and Ifeanyi Ubah. Some of Federal EXCO members in the team were Emeka Nwogu, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Osita Chidoka, Valarie Onwuliri, among many others
On their mission, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, represented by the Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh said the visit was as a result of the resolution by the entire South-east to pay him a visit and persuade him to join the PDP for more meaningful contribution to national affairs.
Metuh, who said the PDP had never lost election in the East, but to Obi as a person because of his integrity, forthrightness, hardwork, honesty, which had made the people to love him and willing to follow him at all times. Citing the recent joining of the PDP by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Metuh said time was ripe for Obi to join the party.
Speaking also Akpabio agreed that the PDP always lost in Anambra State because of Obi. He said he wished they met Obi before the governorship election in state that PDP would have won. However, he said it was not late for him to join the party and work at the centre for the good of the country.
He described former governor as a man of integrity, who comes out strongly on issues, and would be an asset to the country at the centre.
Akpabio called Obi and his wife to be proud of themselves, saying, “If some of your people do not believe in you, if we do not admire you, if they do not realise your potentials, we wont have gathered here. We are telling you that Nigerians believe in you and admire you.”
Speaking during the visit, Governor Orji said: “ We are here today to discuss the future and progress of the South-east geo-political zone with our brother Obi, who was the immediate Governor of Anambra State.
“Having reviewed with him the state of the country and how it affects our people, we came to the conclusion that our interest in the country is better served when we remain together as brothers and sisters under one party and speak with one voice, which Obi has championed over the years.
He stressed that Obi was the type of person the PDP needed to move on because of his integrity and that it was not everybody that the leadership of an organisation would be united in wooing to join the party.
In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu said Obi, even when in All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), extended hands of friendship to everybody who would contribute to the development of Anambra State. He said Obi’s demonstration of leadership, integrity, his friendship with the President Goodluck Jonathan and commitment to Nigeria prompted them to come and appeal to him to join the PDP.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ihedioha said the decision to come and appeal to Obi to join the PDP was a collective one borne out of how important Nigerians take him (Obi).
Senator Anyim said he was optimistic that the forum would end up convincing Obi to make definite pronouncement today. He said the delegation would not, in fact, “leave his house until he joins.”
Thereafter, the former Chairman of the PDP, Nwodo, while in moving the motion for Obi to join them, said: “In view of Obi’s integrity, political sagacity, marvellous work in Anambra State, stabilising influence on the federal government, we the leaders of the PDP move the motion that you are the one we are waiting for in the PDP.”
The motion was seconded by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu, who said that Obi was one good man the PDP needed for his utility not just to the President, but to the country at large.
Mrs Chikwe, who spoke on behalf of women, said Obi was like the woman having an affair, and begot children, and that the event of today was akin to his mistress coming with his children to ask for the legalisation of the marriage.
She described Obi as sharing the same vision of a prosperous country with the PDP and that that would contribute more to Nigeria by joining a national party.
Obi, who was called upon to respond to the request by Senator Ben Obi, said he was humbled by the visit: “I most sincerely appreciate this visit by people I consider as important political leaders from the South-east. I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country.
“I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people.
“Regarding your visit of today let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but in the best interest of our people,” he said.
Obi further stated that the issue of joining a national party is not about happening in APGA, but because of the need to be a competitor and not a spectator in national affairs.
After a request that he should be given time to get back to the PDP delegates and the insistence of the forum that time was of essence, Obi accepted the offer to join them in the PDP.