Former Senate President, Dr Adolphus Wabara, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees ( BoT ) of the Taminu Turaki led Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) has welcomed the Abia state governor Dr Alex Otti , of the Labour Party ( LP ) into the PDP membership, if he accepts / decides to join .
Wabara in a chat with journalists, said he was optimistic that governor Otti would prefer the PDP as the viable vehicle to actualize his second term bid as governor, opining that Otti would be a big asset for any political party he joins.
Wabara attributed the scramble for Otti by political parties, to his ( Otti) very high impressive scorecard in office in about 32 months, stating that this would speak for him in 2027.
He also said that the current efforts being made by Tanimu Turaki -led National Working Committee, NWC , to re-position the PDP, has made his party a more credible alternative for potential progressive governorship and other elective office aspirants in the 2027 election.
While stating that the South East has remained a traditional stronghold of the PDP, Senator Wabara predicted that Otti’s eventual defection to the party would brighten PDP chances and restore the zone as a major force in Nigeria’s political equation.
Senator Wabara who acknowledged and lauded Governor Otti’s numerous developmental strides across the state sectors, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare , education , industry and security, rural development , said that intensive efforts were being made by. PDP elders to reposition the party and return it to its number one party in the country.
He commended governor Otti for articulating and activating the Abia state 25-year development plan, describing it as as a roadmap for a focused ‘New and Greater Abia’.
Wabara said ” as an elder statesman and a stakeholder in the Abia polity, I have a moral obligation to acknowledge performance not minding party affiliation, stressing that good governance should not be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics.”
” Governor Otti has returned Abia to the enviable path of greatness as envisioned by the founding fathers of the state, hence his joining the PDP would brighten his chances in 2027″.
“It’s only the devil that would pretend not to have seen the on-going revolution in Abia. But in 2027, the Governor needs a stronger platform like the PDP, which has the capacity and national spread to resist the antics of the national ruling party that is being accused in many quarters of instigating crisis in the opposition parties”.
According to the elder statesman, when he hailed the Governor Otti’s move to rehabilitate the strategic but long -abandoned Port Harcourt Road Aba ( a federal road ) ” some mischief makers called for my head.
” But today, I have been vindicated, as other Abians from different political backgrounds are celebrating the undeniable evidence of good governance in our state. Everything should not be politics”, Wabara said.
He therefore urged governor. Otti to seriously consider joining the PDP especially in view of the “instigated leadership tussle in his Labour Party.”
Wabara also urged Nigerians to unite against the ploy by anti-democratic elements in the ruling APC, to plunge the country into a one -party state, commending the House of Representatives for approving mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the on-going Constitutional amendment exercise, saying it will help strengthen the electoral process and minimise manipulation of election results.
To his PDP members, Wabara urged them to remain unwavering in their support for the party, asserting “PDP’s gloomy days are over”, there is a brighter future for the PDP in 2027.
WRITTEN BY GORDI UDEAJAH
