Ebonyi; The Gale Of Defection And The Debacle Of Unwilling Lieutenants
By our reporter
The rumour which sooner than later, reverberated across the political landscape of Ebonyi State and even beyond, could not be remedied as the cosmetic reffutal of the alleged defection by Mr Francis Nwaze, special assisstant on media and publicity to the governor, could not remedy the already escalated rumor. The political terrain was further burdened by torrents of consultation.
First, the thirteen (13) Local Government were summoned to append their approval for or against the planned defection, which they all, gave approval to, according to our findings.
There was however a “crack on the wall” at the state House of Assembly’ as six (6) out of the twenty four (24) members of the state Assembly, opposed the planned defection.
The members of the Assembly who refused to yield to the governor’s request to decamp with him to the APC were: Hon. Victor Aleke (Ebonyi North West), Hon. Okechukwu Ali (Ishielu North), Hon. Chris Usulor (Ezza South), Hon. Franca Chinyere Okpo (Abakaliki North), Hon. Arinze Lucas Chukwu (Ishielu South) and Hon. Chidi Ejem (Afikpo South East).
We gathered that the Deputy Leader of the House and member representing Afikpo North West state Constituency, Hon. Ogbonnaya Ikoro abstained from any of the groups, while the member representing Ivo state constituency, Oliver Osi requested to consult with his godfather, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
It was further revealed that during the press conference held by the House at the speaker’s lodge on Monday, 19th October, 2020, more members who earlier declared support, withdrew, though the speaker, Rt. Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru went on to read out the resolution of the House, prominent among which, was the call on the national leadership of the people’s Democratic Party PDP, to within seven days, zone the party’s presidential candidate for 2023 Election to South East.
The state chapter of the people’s Democratic Party PDP, equally toed the same path after its press conference on Tuesday at the party’s Secretariat, mandating the national working committee of the people’s Democratic party PDP, to within one week, cede the party’s presidential ticket come 2023 to South East or risk loosing the state to APC.
On Tuesday, November 10th, 2020 after Governor Umahi’s meeting with the National working Committee of the people’s Democratic party PDP, in his Abuja lodge. The Governor announced his departure from the party as was reported by punch Newspaper, which no government officials refuted.
Here’s the details of the report;
“The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, have told the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Tuesday that he was leaving the party. He said he would join the ruling All Progressives Congress which he claimed would protect the interest of the South-East in the 2023 elections.
Our correspondent gathered that Umahi told the members of the National Working Committee of the PDP that his decision to join the APC was irrevocable.
The members of the PDP NWC, who were led to the meeting by its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, were said to have tried in vain to convince the governor not to abandon the party.
Apart from Secondus, among those that were at the meeting at the Ebonyi Governor’s Lodge in Abuja were Deputy National Secretary, Agbo Emmanuel; National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobondu; Financial Secretary, Abdullahi Maibasira; National Women Leader, Mariya Waziri and Senator Sulieman Nazif.
The governor was said to be friendly when he received the PDP delegation, but stuck to his decision to leave the PDP when the issue came up.
It was gathered that the PDP delegation impressed it upon the governor that there was no need leaving the PDP for the APC, which they argued had become unpopular.
Sources at the meeting, however, said the governor was not convinced, insisting that the APC was planning to zone the 2023 Presidency to the South-East.
He was said to have promised to stay in the PDP if the party could make a pronouncement that it would zone the Presidency to the same zone.
One of the sources said, “I think his (governor’s) mind was made up. We told him there was no need for him to abandon the party that had made him a deputy governor, state chairman of the party, two-time governor and all that. But he refused.
“He wanted us to unilaterally zone the office of the Presidency to his area. We cannot do that. Parties are not run that way. He told us he was leaving. That is what we got from him.’’
When contacted, Secondus confirmed that the party’s leadership met with Umahi.
He, however, refused to declared the details of the meeting, insisting that the meeting was on ‘‘national issues,” PUNCH Newspaper reported.
Meanwhile, feelers from various quarters indicate that vast majority of government appointees are not comfortable with the “new found love” of the governor, the APC, as many have secretly expressed their unwillingness for the movement. Though, as the political norms stands, the unwilling lieutenants may be shown the way out of the way if they stick to their stand.
However, some have perfected plans to join the bandwagon, due to the enormous hunger in the land, but may return to PDP as soon as the political climate changes.
How will it end? Time will definitely tell.
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