By Cajetan Mmuta
Indications emerged on Friday that leaders and Stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state are poised for a showdown with former Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the 2015 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi over his move to unilaterally draft a deputy Governorship candidate as running mate to the party’s flag bearer, Chief Valentine Ozigbo.
Members of the Independent Leaders’ Forum (ILF) declared that Peter Obi should desist from any attempt to impose a Deputy Governorship candidate on Ozigbo.
President of the ILF, Chief O. C. N. Okafor in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka the state capital said the group rejected the choice of Prof. Stella Okunna who is in her 60s and not a grassroots politician, and that of Hon. Ndubuisi Menakaya is also not a grassroots politician as running mate to the PDP Governorship candidate.
Okafor said,”With all sense of humility and modesty, may we remind His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi that we do not want a repeat of what happened in 2017 where he (Mr. Peter Obi) was in the forefront of the campaign, sidelined the campaign organization of HE Oseloka Obaze, and major stakeholders in decision making, the resultant effect was PDP losing 21/21 LGAs to APGA.”
According to him, “As lobbying for the post of a Deputy Governorship Candidate/ Running Mate to Mr. Valentine Ozigbo continues, we, the members of Independent Leaders’ Forum (ILF) have observed the antics of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi to single-handedly impose a running mate/Deputy Governorship candidate in the person of Prof. Stella Okunna or Hon. Ndubuisi Menakaya, without recourse to other critical stakeholders in the party.”
He stated that “Aware that the choice of a Running Mate is the business of the Party and generality of the major Stakeholders, *We completely REJECT the choice of Prof. Stella Okunna, who is in her 60s and not a grassroot politician, and also the choice of Hon. Ndubuisi Menakaya, though in his late 50s, but is not a grassroot politician.”
The group said, “Regardless of the fact that Mr. Ozigbo was not Peter Obi’s preferred choice in the just concluded primary, we were surprised to observe that Peter Obi, in the company of his close associates, immediately took Mr. Ozigbo to Abuja in the guise of “Reconciliation”.
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Chief Okafor noted that “Naturally, this has affected Mr. Ozigbo such that making some critical decisions are difficult and almost impossible without the input of Mr. Peter Obi and his associates.”
“No single individual can deliver a Governorship Candidate successfully, without the input of other major stakeholders.”
“Therefore, Mr. Peter Obi’s dictate of Mr. Valentine Ozigbo’s Running Mate and Campaign would naturally bring a repeat of what happened in 2017. This we must oppose with everything we have.”
The ILF cautioned that “It should be noted that since 2003 till date, this is the first time a PDP Candidate emerged by a collective effort of major Stakeholders, and not by anointing/selection by a godfather.”
“It is important that we protect this Candidate with all jealousy against those action/s capable of making us loose this election.”
“Finally, we will not hesitate to mobilize other youths to work against the party if Mr. Peter Obi’s or any individual’s nominee of running mate is imposed on the candidate without the collective input of other critical stakeholders,” they warned.
