President Goodluck Jonathan (right) congratulating the new Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, after his swearing in at the 51st National Executive Committee meeting of the party in Abuja.

By Henry Umoru
MONDAY July 5, 2010  may  have come and gone, but  the memories of it still lingers. First it was the day set aside by a people, the Igbos especially the Enugu State government and its Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to celebrate their own son; it was a day they set aside to roll out drums for a man who was the first Executive Governor of the State, a former National Secretary of the ruling party.

As early as 8am same day, all roads to Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout Enugu, venue of the grand reception for their son, the Ezeanyanwu of Ukehe in Igbo Etiti Local government area of the state were filled up with buses making vehicular movement literarily impossible; the people came from all parts of the country with loaded buses.

For the organizers and the people of Enugu State, it was a grand reception for the sixth National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Emmanuel Okwesilieze Nwodo. The organizers, never  knew that the entire South East and their governors irrespective of party affiliation will unite for Nwodo.

The governors of Imo, Ikedi Ohakim , Martins Elechi also of Ebonyi, Sullivan Chime, the chief host, the Anambra State governor, Peter Obi who belongs to the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA and his Abia State counterpart, Theodore Orji who recently dumped the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA were all there for the man, Nwodo.

Also present were Chief Jim Nwobodo, Senator Ken Nnamani, former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah, Senator Ayogu Eze, Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Philip Salawu, Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Minister of Health, Prof. Okechukwu, John Nnia Nwodo, Mrs. Beatrice Ekwueme, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr., Senator Osita Izunaso, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi, Chief Walter Ofonagoro, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, members of PDP National Working Committee, Group Captain Joe Orji among others.

As soon as the Master of Ceremony  announced the presence of Orji, both journalists and others became confused as to what he was doing at a PDP function.

After  the arrival of the Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, Peter Obi was announced, it became very clear that the day was no longer a mere reception for a PDP national Chairman by the PDP and its controlled states.

Besides having these governors in attendance, major stakeholders in the South East, members of the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, politicians from the zone especially members of the National Assembly who have plans to have their mandates renewed as well as new entrants did not hide their presence as their supporters took over the entire square.

Supporters of the Enugu State governor with inscriptions, ride on Chime, people of Ezedike, Oji River General Association, Oji River Youths, Legacy Forum, Ohodo, Total Mandate continuity rally 2011, among others are behind you Sullivan Chime, just as supporters of the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Marine transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi representing Igboeze Federal Constituency as well as supporters of Gilbert Nnaji  stormed the place, drummed and sang round the square; infact, they added glamour to the programme.

There were traditional dancers from Abia State with the popular ohafia dance, dancers from Enugu and even the Agbata cultural group from Akpan, Kogi State.

There was also the symbolic appearance of the elephant on display, an indication that the celebrant, Nwodo is an elephant capable of crushing even the trees. Setting the stage for the event proper was the opening address by the Chairman, PDP Enugu State Chapter, Engr. Vita Abba who disclosed that as a party and the people of Enugu, they were celebrating their own.

The National Vice Chairman, South East, Olisa Metu in his remarks said there were attempts to divide the people of the South East, adding that henceforth, no external forces will be allowed in the zone as the people have leaders who can address their problems.

When it was the turn of the PDP national Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo to address the mammoth crowd, he said, Iam happy that the unity we have longed for in the zone is coming now that Iam made the national Chairman of the party, it is the unity that we have not seen for a long time.

By the show of unity, for the respect, for the honour and dignity the governors have for my person, it means unity is coming to our land, I salute our governors, I salute the people, I salute you because you are sending a message loud and clear across Nigeria that the Igbos can be united, you are sending a message that even when we have diversity in Igbo land, we have unity.

“You are sending out a message today that in Nigeria, we can sit at home and sacrifice, we can strategize and plan for the future of Igbos and Nigeria.  A statement was made here, we are not going to be president, we are not going to be vice president, but we want the gains of democracy for our people.

“I will indeed be very happy if this message is taken across Nigeria, across the length and breath of this country that we have come to a point where we must look for the unity of Nigeria, where we must look for men of integrity, men of courage, men of ideas, men of vision to lead our great country based on patriotism, not based on religion, not based on sex, not based on tribe but people with dignity, with respect, with the love of the people and who care for the people.

“I think with this statement made today, I am proud to be associated with it.  I am proud to be an Igbo man today. I am proud that we are going to bring the people of the east back into the mainstream of Nigeria asserting ourselves, asserting our industry, asserting our integrity, asserting our excellence in order to reshape and uphold the dignity of the Nigerian nation.”

“We must unchain the hitches that have hampered the free expression of democracy in our land.  Those hitches, those manmade obstacles, those impediments that have refused to allow Nigeria to grow.  We cannot have democracy in which those fathers and godfathers dictate our democratic pace.  Democracy must be by the people and for the people”.

In his remarks, a representative of the president, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, praised the unity among the people of the South East, stressing that the emergence of Nwodo as the PDP National Chairman has totally and comprehensively united the people of the South East.

According to him, “if there are generals in the army, there are generals in politics, there are political generals in the East; today is a testimony that Nigeria has crossed political immaturity. In the South East we have no problem of unity, what we need is prayer for God to lead us right”.

For the PDP National Chairman, the South East governors showed solidarity that even as they belong to other parties, they could attend a PDP’s function, all for Nwodo, they displayed that the governors can speak with one voice for the Igbos that they will not vie for some positions; it showed that the Igbos have a person they can respect beside the likes Azikiwe, the Okpara, Ojukwu, Ben Nwabueze and Ken Nnamani.

The task ahead of Nwodo after the event is how to consolidate on the unity he achieved that Monday, it is a day he will never forget in a jiffy, it is a day he will always live to remember, to cherish, adore and acknowledge, that day in his life that he became a pivot for the long sought unity in the entire South East to be realized.

It is hoped that as Nigeria enters the 2011 general elections, the same attitude will be shown by the politicians. It is hoped that Nwodo will realize that with this, he has a very big task ahead to sustain.  Time shall tell as events unfold.