SINCE Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led other chieftains of the party to Umuahia, the Abia State capital, to appeal and convinced Governor Theodore Orji to return to the party, there has been absolute unity and peace in the state chapter of the party. This is because Orji has utilised his uncommon fatherly and humble approach, coupled with the spirit of give and take, to unify the party stakeholders.

The popularity and acceptance of the party in the state after then was immediately attested to by the outcome of the 2011 general elections in the state. The party won the governorship, State Assembly and National Assembly seats in the state in a landslide victory, consigning the fringe opposition parties that exist only in the imagination of the quicksand proponents whenever elections draw near in the state into dustbin.

The development was unprecedented in the history of the party in the state since 1999. Ever since then, the party has remained one united family with the major stakeholders, the people and the state government working closely and assiduously in developing the state and the party. The consistent crises, backbiting and intrigues that characterized the party before became a thing of the past.

Ahead of the 2015 polls, the party members, leadership and stakeholders have resolved that in the interest of fairness, equity and brotherhood that the party’s governorship ticket will go to Abia South zone made up  mainly of Ukwa/ Ngwa people, the only zone that has not produced a governor since 1999. Since then, the party has been working towards actualising the objective by ensuring that a level playing ground will be provided to all party aspirants from the zone.

The state governor, Chief Theodore Orji who also doubles as the South East Caucus leader of the PDP and Chairman South East Governors’ Forum has since then continued to reiterate the party’s position on the matter, without minding whose ox is gored. None of the major party stakeholders and genuine members of the party in the state has denied the zoning decision or attacked the Governor on the issue. Today, PDP bigwigs and members in the state are known to not only the Presidency, the state and national leadership of the party, but also to the people of the state and other Nigerians. They have political values and followers across the state because people believe in their achievements and integrity. They have held and will still hold several meetings on how to move the party, the state and the country forward. Virtually all of them are always available for the party meetings both in the state and Abuja, and they have always spoken with one voice because their leader, Gov. Orji has always carried them along in every decision.

With the 2015 polls in view, the party is already putting its act together  to ensure that it emerges victorious in all the elections. But some disgruntled political elements, failed leaders and valueless politicians in the state instead of facing their self-inflicted political woes have continued to throw jibes and tantrums at the party elders in the state, all in a desperate bid to gain undue political attention and relevance. They have taken their propaganda to the media, in the print, broadcast and social media. But no one PDP stakeholder or leader in the state is joining issues with them because silence, they say, is the best answer to fools.

Even when the state governor was abroad on vacation, they fabricated rumour that State Assembly members were initiating impeachment against him. When it did not fly, another rumour came up that the Governor has endorsed a particular aspirant, whereas he agreed upon rejoining PDP in 2010 that he will hand over power to a particular member of the National Assembly in 2015. They also spread and published rumour that the Governor has set up a secret panel headed by one of his kinsmen to handpick his successor.

But reacting to the rumour of the alleged impeachment upon his arrival from vacation recently, the Governor dismissed the rumour that the House of Assembly has commenced impeachment process against him. The Governor said: “I have always said that one of the benefits of democracy is freedom of speech. Anybody can say anything and get away with it because it’s their right. Commencing an impeachment process against me is something that will never happen in the state House of Assembly. Our Assembly remains one of the best in the country in terms of support to the executive. You can’t even raise such a matter on the floor of the Assembly because you will be stoned to death.”

On the 2015 election, Orji said he has not endorsed anybody to succeed him. “I’m not power drunk like previous governors; I have not come to establish a business empire in Abia State. Wherever I stop in 2015, someone else will continue from there. Anybody that will rule Abia will emerge from the congress; nobody is more powerful than the other,” he said.

If these elements still believe in their own delusion that they are still relevant and popular politically in the state, is it not better for them to spend their time and energy in strategising on how to challenge the PDP in 2015 on any opposition platform instead of dissipating such time and energy for nothing.

Or have they seen that opposition has been non-existent in the state since 2010 till date, and there is no way they can make any inroad considering that the present PDP-led government in the state and at the federal levels have outperformed its predecessors in all spheres? Is it why they are envious of the PDP unity and acceptance at all levels of governance across the country and are determined to bring the party down by all means and at all cost before the 2015 polls?

Why are they afraid of coming down from their Olympian height, be law-abiding and follow due process to be accommodated in the PDP? The umbrella is big enough to accommodate every Nigerian, but checklist should be run on everyone that has questionable antecedent before being allowed into the umbrella.

Mr. Chidi Nwaizu, a political analyst, wrote from Bende, Abia State.