THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo has finally wielded the big stick in Enugu State.

He has dissolved the very executive that gave him a waiver to be able to become a candidate for the then vacant office of the National Chairman. He has bit the fingers that fed him just a few months ago.

Against all advice, the Enugu State PDP executive open-handedly received the sojourning Dr. Nwodo back to the Party. Before then, he had been to All Nigeria Peoples Party and Action Congress of Nigeria where he was an ordinary party man.

At this point of re-entry into the party, his political weight was zero, absolutely zero.

Dr Nwodo’s mission was simple and not hidden ( to be anointed the National Chairman of our party ).

For this plan to work, he would be granted waiver by the party. As soon as the waiver was granted at the prompting of Governor Sullivan Chime, the rest of the job of making him the National Chairman was easy.

Governor Chime began a spirited battle to dislodge the candidacy of Nze Chukwu Ozichukwu who was equally enjoying the sponsorship of the Governor of Imo State (his own state), Ikedi Ohakim .

Governor Chime mobilised all to make this otherwise distant dream come true. He relocated to Abuja until the deed was done.

A member of the just dissolved executive told me he advised one of the Governor’s aide to advise the governor to withdraw his support for Dr. Nwodo as the Nwodo family for long had worked against our party, both at the state and   local government levels and will want to assert themselves as soon as their own is put in a vantage position.

At this point, Chief Nnia Nwodo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance was sitting on the fence, hoping for this last card to work.They adored the Governor and assured him of their everlasting loyalty.

From all indications, the Nwodo family who have shared wonderful political ties with General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida are set to get back to their first love.

The visit of IBB to the PDP Secretariat after the inferno that gutted it opened this new opportunity which was followed by several other meetings.

Dr. Nwodo has been quoted as saying that he believes in internal democracy and that is why he dissolved the party’s State Executive.

May I ask Dr. Nwodo who elected him the National Chairman of our dear party or is he going to resign for party delegates all over the Country to vote in the National Chairman? We know that part of the problem of the party in the state is the insistence that one family must not produce everything.

A wife wants to be senator, brother  governor, in-laws legislators, etc. In far away Anambra State, the same sanitizer is foisting a lady senatorial aspirant on the people of Anambra North Senatorial district.

Meanwhile, the Governor has been studying this twist in the party, wondering where he got it wrong . Are people not to be trusted anymore?

It is probably not clear where the final blow will land but as it is today, the target is not only the Governor and the well-meaning loyal party members, including national and state assembly members but the race for Aso Rock, the highest office in the land. IBB must really be on top of his game otherwise such coup in our state executive would not have been possible.

The crisis in the party in our state may well be one that will not only deny the party of its clean sweep of the polls come 2011 general elections but may lead to destruction of lives and property which Enugu State has not experienced in recent times.

Violence in our politics has been exchanged for dividend of democracy with the attendant result of massive infrastructural development in the State.

These include the total and aggressive roads rehabilitation in Enugu and beyond, housing development, provision of water and street light and above all, provision of security. It is on record that Enugu State has the lowest crime rate in South East.

The Governor has got our youth re-focused and the State is looking up once again.

As the drama continues to unfold, I plead with Dr Nwodo to remember yesterday. Our State will be the loser. I wish our dear State Goodluck!

Mr.Okey UGWUANYI, a commentator on national issues, writes from Enugu.