At last, Obi joins PDP, pledges to work for Jonathan.

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has finally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He announced his decision following a visit to his Onitsha residence by leaders of the PDP in the South East zone on Tuesday according to a statement by Obi’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem.
Obi who initially said he would get back to the leaders on their request that he joins PDP finally accepted following  the insistence of the forum that time was of essence.
Obi said the issue of joining a national party is not about happening in his former party All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) , but because of the need to be a competitor and not a spectator in national affairs.

” I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people, ” Obi said.

The leaders were led by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwerumadu, Deputy Speaker,  Emeka Ihedioha, Secretary to Federal Government, Sen. Pius Anyim Pius.
Others in the entourage included, the Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, former Governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo,former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara,  Sen. Uche  Chukwumerije, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Sen. Ben Obi, Sen. Igwe Paulinus and Former Aviation Minister,  Kema Chikwe, 

Obi, Tuesday turned out to one he may not forget in a hurry as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  train literarily speaking,   anchored in his Onitsha residence to woo him to join  the ruling party. 

Obi who until Tuesday a leading member of the Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)atlast heeded to the call as he joined the PDP and pledged to work with the party to ensure President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.  

Obi told the PDP delegation led by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who represented the party’s  National Chairman,  Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, that their visit  was  a conspiracy. 

He added that, “politics is not anything but what you have done today. I am sure that your journey will not be in vain.” 

Obi added: “We worked together in 2011, we will do it even better this time.  What we are talking about is not the problems of APGA, it is beyond that. It is how we should stand together in unity in the South East. There is a time you need to be in  competitor  and not  a spectator to help the team. Politics for me is not about personal interest. I assure you that we will work together as one family. I know where I stand very clearly.”

When he sounded a bit ambivalent, Metuh broke up the meeting for private consultations. On return, Obi reechoed his earlier submission and noted that, “I have been talking with Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and what Mimiko said is where I stand. Nobody could be more committed to the president than me and Mimiko. We have decided that we will work inside. 

“I started as APGA governor and I ended as APGA governor. We have to work with the president with our whole heart. South East must achieve a better result.”

Calling for his kinsmen to join hands  to work together, he said, “all of us must work together to produce better result for the South East.”

Earlier , Metuh described Obi as an important part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration in 2015 and told him that, “We need you not to sabotage the aspiration of the president. We have noted your importance and the party believes that at this critical point it is imperative for you to come and join the PDP. The PDP is the only party that fosters unity, others are ethnic based.” 

Metuh noted how the PDP had always lost elections in Anambra, but noted that “the PDP never lost any election to any party; we always lost to Peter Obi.”

Also, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, said Obi had always been part of the PDP family and regretted that, “this visit was not made two weeks before the last Anambra election. We would have won.” 

Describing the former governor as a “man of integrity, a man who despite his political party differences stood behind President Jonathan. We just want you  to integrate into the centre to continue doing at you have been doing since. This is an appeal you must agree to today.”

The Abia State Governor, who is also the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum Theodore Orji, who had joined PDP under similar circumstances, told Obi that the time had come for him to support Jonathan with his whole heart, “because what you do with your whole heart is usually a success.” Reminiscing on how he hosted a similar visitation, he said that Obi was being wooed because he had value to add to the PDP, “the kind of value I added when I joined. When you come, we will now speak with one voice in the South East. We have passed the stage of ethnic politics in the country.”

 The Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reechoed the fact that, Obi is “a great admirer of the PDP. It is important that we deliver 100 per cent to the President and you are crucial in that. You have always being a winner, so leave Egypt and come over to Israel. You have a personal relationship with the President and you have always extended your hand of friendship to the PDP even when you were in APGA. So, this is homecoming for you.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha said the decision to come and appeal to Mr. Peter Obi to join the PDP was a collective one borne out of How importantly Nigerians take Mr. Obi.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator . Anyim Pius Anyim, said he was optimistic the forum would end up convincing  Obi . to make definite pronouncement today. He said the delegation would not, in fact, leave his house until he joins.”

Thereafter, the former Chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo  in moving the motion for Obi to join them said: “in view of Obi’s integrity, political sagacity, marvellous work in Anambra State, stabilizing influence on the Federal Government, we the leaders of the PDP move the motion that you are the one we are waiting for in the PDP.

The motion was seconded by the Minister of Labour , Chief Emeka Wogu, who said that Obi was one good man the PDP needed for his utility not just to the President, but to the country at large.  

Mrs Kema Chikwe, speaking on behalf of  woman said Obi was like the  woman having an affair, and begot children, and that the event of today was akin to his mistress coming with his children to ask for the legalization of the marriage. He described Obi as sharing the same vision of a prosperous country with the PDP and that we would contribute more to Nigeria by joining a national party.

Obi, who was  called upon to respond to the request by Ben Obi, said he was humbled by the visit thus: “I most sincerely appreciate this visit by people I consider as important political leaders from the South-East. I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country.

I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people. Regarding your visit of today, let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but  in the best interest of our people. 

Further Obi said the issue of joining a national party is not about happening in APGA, but because of the need to be a competitor and not a spectator in national affairs.

Finally, after protracted request that he be given time to get back to them and the insistence of the forum that time was of essence, he joined the PDP.

Read more>>> www.tan.org.ng