Despite PDP suspension, Wabara lauds Gov Otti’s leadership in Abia

Not minding the ongoing issues within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whereby the State Working Committee (SWC) suspended him over allegations of anti-party activities, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP and a former Senate President of the National Assembly, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, has once again praised Governor Alex Otti for his good works in Abia State.

Wabara was alleged by the PDP to have called for a second term for Otti for having done well, and therefore suspended him. However, the National Working Committee (NWC), in a swift reaction, nullified the suspension, while the Abia SWC maintained its stance and warned of legal action against the NWC.

However, as these controversies rage on, Sen. Wabara, on Sunday during the 80th birthday celebration of Dr. Godswill Emelike Okoro, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) who served under the first tenure of the immediate past Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, said he was a citizen of Abia State before becoming a member of the PDP.

According to him, “Before becoming a PDP card-carrying member, before becoming an NRC card-carrying member in this state, I, Adolphus Nduneweh Wabara, was first and foremost a citizen of Abia. Politics ends after campaigns and elections, and then you start thinking of governance. Even a blind man can see what is happening in Abia. And I am saying it again. Maybe now they said I was suspended, they can now expel me. But, having said so, sir, continue with the works; our ancestors in Abia are with you.”

He called on the PDP leadership in the state to go on air the next day to suspend Dr. Emelike Okoro, whom Governor Otti came to celebrate.

Sen. Wabara, who vowed that nobody can suspend him in the PDP for speaking the truth that everyone can see, declared that he would continue to appreciate Governor Otti for the good works he is doing, stating, “I will be one of those who will continue to appreciate you. I have not mentioned Labour Party; I have always mentioned Governor Alex Otti. We are all with you.”

Sen. Wabara said that Governor Otti, whom they never wanted to be Governor, is the one recovering the state from the ruins of bad governance.

In his speech, the state governor Alex Otti described Dr. Emelike Okoro as having turned “80 years younger,” explaining that his relationship with Dr. Okoro transcends politics and is like that of a father and mentor to him.

The governor restated that his administration does not tolerate any form of segregation, stating that as long as you live in Abia and do the things expected of a citizen, you are from Abia. He described Abians as people of excellence and called on those living with primordial sentiments to wake up and embrace the new Abia that his administration is building, which is anchored on excellence, capacity, competence, and equity.

Governor Otti, who called for a return to the culture of respect for the elders, which the Igbos are known for, warned those insulting the elders in the name of politics or for whatever reason to desist from doing so, as such has curses, which, if pronounced by the elders, become effectual.

Governor Otti said that it is in the spirit of respecting the elders that he attended the birthday celebration of Dr. Okoro and will continue to do so irrespective of party affiliation. He announced that he will return to celebrate Sen. Abaribe at 70 years by March, and Sen. Chris Adighije at 80 years, in March.

Expressing his excitement, Dr. Emelike Okoro said that Governor Otti has brought a breath of fresh air to Abia State and commended the Governor for the recent flag-off of road reconstructions in Abia North and Abia Central zones of the state, noting that these will greatly boost the agricultural sector of the state from those corridors.

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