Buffeted by formidable opposition ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery over the possibility of losing Abia State to a rival party.
The party’s National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, worried that the contestation over the zoning formula in Abia State is yet to be resolved, advised Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and aggrieved members of the party to quickly iron out their differences, and secure the State for the ruling party.
PDP had last week, announced the zoning of the party’s 2023 governorship ticket to both Abia North and Abia Central Senatorial districts.
But several party chieftains including former Senate President Adolphus Wabara; immediate past Secretary to State Government Dr Eme Okoro; among others kicked against the “strange zoning” which some alleged was a ploy to actualise the alleged “Ngwa self succession agenda”.
Ayu spoke Tuesday, while unveling the Abia State Specialist Hospital, saying that “Abia State has been traditionally a PDP State and very dear to the party.”
Dr Ayu, who said he received several threat letters warning him not to come to Abia alleging he was coming to endorse the governor’s preferred candidate for the governorship race, distanced himself from any endorsement.
“We must not lose Abia. Abia must remain PDP. I have asked the governor to and others complaining about zoning to put heads together and resolve it.
“When I was invited by the governor to come and commission this project, I received a lot of letters of threat warning me not to come to Abia. They said if I come to Abia I would not return alive.
“They said I’m coming to endorse a certain candidate. But we don’t endorse candidates at the centre. It’s left for Abia people to discuss and solve their problem in their own way.”
The former Senate President had earlier while reacting to a group of people suspected to be from Abia North who stormed the venue with placards demanding that “equity be respected”, noted that democracy allows people with dissenting voices to express themselves.
He said that PDP strongly believes in democracy and giving equal opportunity to all.
Senator Ayu prayed that “Nigeria will never be ruled by the military again”.
He commended Ikpeazu for the initiative to build a specialist hospital for children, describing it as “very wise”.
“When we elect governors we expect them to work for their people; to build roads and hospitals; to develop education.
“We are not like the other party whose governors do nothing but run to Abuja and be playing politics. ‘
The PDP Chairman, however, pleaded with Ikpeazu to ensure that the hospital is sustained to be able to fulfill the purpose of its establishment.
In a remark, the governor said the aim of his administration is to increase the life expectancy of Abians above the national average.
He said the specialist hospital was built to provide specialised and quality care for all health needs of children from zero-18 years.
Ikpeazu explained that while the hospital financed the project, the technical support was provided by Abians in the Diaspora.
He commended Dr. Jackson, an American, and co-founder of Project C.U.R.E who he said facilitated the shipment of the equipment for the hospital.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Osuji, described the project as another landmark achievement of Ikpeazu’s administration.
The project consultant, Dr Edith Ugboaja, noted that children receive better treatment at specialist hospitals than at other hospitals, hence the need for the facility.