A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr Sunday Ikechukwu Damian has drawn the attention of Governor Peter Mbah to an alleged attempt by a member of the House of Representatives member, representing Awgu/Oji-River/Aninri Federal Constituency, Hon Anayo Onwuegbu to remove all the elected ward executives of the party in the council area.
Damian raised the alarm in a statement he made available to journalists on Thursday.
He alleged that the lawmaker recently met with the PDP chairman in the state, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike, during which he sought the chairman’s cooperation to remove the ward exco members.
He said the Reps member’s game plan was to replace the ward leaders with his preferred candidates.
Damian alleged that, “It has been noticed with surprise that Onwuegbu, whom they spent their energy and resources to deliver during the election is lobbying the Enugu State chairman of the PDP, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike to remove and replace the ward executives with his preferred candidates.
“At first when the news filtered in, we took it with a pinch of salt, but as the days passed by, it dawned on us that there is no smoke without fire.
“This became crystal clear last week when one Dr. Uche Ugochukwu led Engr. Anayo Onwuegbu to visit the state chairman, Dr. Chukwunweike at his residence to perfect this ugly and undemocratic agenda.
“We gathered from a competent source that the PDP Enugu State chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunweike in his response told Omeiheukwu and Dr. Uche Uzochukwu that he will consult with the Chief of Staff Enugu State Government House and revert to them.
“The worry of the newly elected ward executives is that Engr Anayo Onwuegbu since elected in power has not called a meeting of Oji River stakeholders or even Oji, Awgu and Aninri people to brief them on the mandate given to him by them.
“All his efforts and stock in trade since his swearing in as member representing Oji River/Awgu/Aninri has been to further divide the zone into tiny groups.”
He said rather than spend money to remove the ward leaders, the lawmaker should embrace and guide them on the way forward.
“Does it mean that the Christmas gift Engr Onwuegbu has for the Party in Oji River LGA is to remove the ward executives instead of giving them bags of rice like his counterparts.
“Engr Anayo Onwuegbu (Omeiheukwu) should be informed that the same word executives of Oji River LGA participated and elected the newly OJI RIVER Local government executives.
“They also participated and voted for the current executive chairman of Oji River LGA (Greg Anyaegbudike). The same way they also participated and voted for the current PDP ENUGU State executives under the leadership of Dr. Martin Chukwunweike.
“If he does not recognize the Oji River Local government ward executives, he should also reject the Zonal and State excos of PDP in Enugu state.
“The law says that once you identify with the whole, you have already identified with the parts,” he further stated.
The party chieftain said further: “we bring the attention of the governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr Barr Peter Mbah to these undemocratic tenets, which would not augur well for the party.
“We also call on the state party chairman to resist these destabilizing plans by those who do not mean well for the party and the state in general.
“For Dr Uche Uzochukwu, our advice to him is to make hay while the sun shines by dissociating himself from things that will destabilize the party.
“Anybody taking any action that will throw the party into confusion is engaging in anti-party activities and should be so guided.”
Efforts to get reactions from the lawmaker were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.