The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has admitted that it made some mistakes as the ruling party in Abia State, especially during the period between 2015 and 2023.
The Vice Chairman of the party who doubles as its acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah said this while addressing newsmen at the end of the expanded stakeholders meeting of the party held at its new secretariat in Umuahia on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Elder Amah said that the State Working Committee of the party had done a post-mortem on the 2023 elections and accepted that part of the reasons the party lost the governorship elections were the mistakes they made with some governance policies and programs, and during the period leading to the general elections.
Apart from internal party issues, he identified the welfarist agenda of the PDP government as one that needed to have been better fine-tuned in terms of allocation of resources to all areas of strategic importance such as pensions and related allowances. He however stated that out of former Governor Ikpeazu’s 96 months in office, he paid pensioners regularly for 51 months and also serviced pension arrears inherited from past administrations.
He said that following its honest and collective self-appraisal after the 2023 elections, the party has come to terms with its mistakes and he apologized to Abians on behalf of the party, with a solemn pledge that such errors would never repeat if the party got another opportunity to form a government.
In his words, “The Abia PDP has made its mistakes and we have not only told ourselves the hard truth but we have also learnt from our mistakes and vowed that such mistakes would never repeat if we have another opportunity at governance. Going forward, Abians can confidently bet on our irrevocable resolve and determination to balance some critical deficits in governance as we are experiencing today, and sustain a reformed welfarist agenda that would be better balanced with other essential areas to create a robust economy for the State.”
On the gale of defections from the PDP as recently reported in the media, Elder Amah asserted that the defections, some of which may have been blown out of proportion with sensational media reports, have come as a welcome development that would help the party reorganize itself and reposition for stronger impact.
According to him, “Abia PDP is going through a renewal process during which elements that had little or no value to the party are weeding themselves away. It is good for the party. In agricultural parlance, plants and deciduous trees like the Iroko shed their leaves in due season to enable them grow fresh ones. When that happens, some people may think that such plants are dying. But those who understand natural processes know that the plants would grow bigger, stronger and become more productive.
“The massive attendance recorded at the stakeholders’ meeting we held today lends credence to this natural phenomenon. Nature abhors a vacuum. Those who have left Abia PDP have expressed their rights to freedom of association and we do not resent their decision. But they have voluntarily created spaces for more committed persons to join and help strengthen the party and its organs at all levels. And I must tell you that some political heavyweights would soon join the party. Abia PDP is definitely coming back stronger and totally determined to confront the odds and correct the errors of the past. We have the widest spread at the grassroots across the 17 LGAs, and, with every sense of modesty, we are the party to beat in 2027.”
Earlier at the meeting, leaders of the party and key stakeholders had urged party faithful to remain steadfast in their loyalty to the party, forgive past mistakes and offences, and refresh their commitment to building a renewed Abia PDP.
Former governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, 2023 governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahiwe, former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, State Chairman of the PDP, Rt. Hon. Allwell Asiforo Okere, Distinguished Senator Austin Akobundu (Abia Central Senatorial District), Barr. Okey Osuoha, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, Hon. Uko Nkole, Rt. Hon. C. O. Enweremadu, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Hon. Uzoma Abonta, Rt. Hon. Emeka Stanley, Hon. Okey Igwe, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Dr. Max Nduaguibe, Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Hon. Collins Ugochkwu Iheonunekwu, Hon. Rowland Chinwendu Dennis, stakeholders, LGA and Ward Executives from the 17 LGAs of the State were among dignitaries at the well-attended the meeting.
