Ebonyi senator declares for APC over quarrel with Gov Umahi, claims PDP is in crisis

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator representing Ebonyi South, Chief Sonni Ogbuoji has dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ogbuoji, who is Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation may have quit his former party because of irreconcilable differences with the state governor, Chief David Umahi.

The two-term senator showed up at the APC Southeast Caucus meeting, which held at the Uburu, Ohaozara country home of the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, at the weekend in Ebonyi State, where he told newsmen that he was fed up with the PDP.
Ogbuoji said the party was currently riddled with crisis; far beyond what many could see, and therefore, asked people to disabuse their mind from the wrong perception that PDP was an Igbo party.

Pointing out that the level of governance offered by the PDP governors was disadvantageous to the party and Ndigbo, he declared that the APC was the best option for the southeast, especially as the zone warms up for the Presidency after 2019.

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Ogbuoji also enjoined south easterners to reach out to people from other geopolitical zones that were already entrenched in the APC and play mainstream national politics instead of crying of marginalisation.

“I am one of those who believe that the issue of Igbo marginalisation cannot be corrected by shouting in the media. The Igbo have a responsibility to determine what should happen about marginalisation. It’s not to be waiting for the other people who are interested in the same thing to now give it to us; it’s not going to work.

“I believe that by joining forces; sharing ideas with those who are already in APC, we have a better chance of improving what we have.
“The level of governance that we are receiving from PDP governors is not going to help the case of the PDP and the Igbo. So, there is no need offending ourselves that PDP is an Igbo party; it’s far from it. As we speak today; APGA may lay claim to be an Igbo party; but certainly, PDP cannot lay claim to be an Igbo party.

“That’s why there is the need to rethink about what happens to the Igbo from 2019 upwards,” the senator stated.
There had been no love lost between Senator Ogbuoji and Governor David Umahi, shortly after the 2015 general elections.

During the election of party executives from wards to the zone; both politicians had disagreed on the candidates leading to an altercation at the southeast zonal congress at Okpara Square, Enugu, where the governor fielded his younger brother, Austin for the post of PDP National Vice Chairman.

In fact, Governor Umahi recently bared his fangs when he, through the Council Chairman of Afikpo South, Eni Uduma, attempted to stop a civic reception organised for the senator during the yuletide by his home town of Ebunwana.
By Ajansii Mgbom ….

 

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