Abia PDP Youths Reject Move To Re -Admit Ex Governor Kalu Into Party

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Politics Monday, September 15th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Umuahia

The youth wing of the Abia state chapter of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) has vowed to resist any attempt by the National leadership of the party to re-admit the former state Governor, Dr. Orji Uzo kalu into its fold.

It would be recalled the state’s PDP stakeholders had during a solidarity visit to the national leadership of the party in Abuja in February this year, told its National Chairman, Adamu Mua,zu that they did not want the former Governor re-admitted into Abia Chapter of the Party.

Orji Uzor Kalu

In the same vein, the youths in a fresh petition signed by its leader, Jerry Ogbonna, to President Goodluck Jonathan and national chairman, Mau,zu and made available to our Correspondent in Enugu Monday, insisted that they could not work with kalu.

The petition is titled “Orji Uzor Kalu: The Distraction We Don’t Need In Abia PDP An Open Letter To Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu”

It reads in parts: “apart from the collateral damage his poor credibility status may cause the Party, we are aware that his re- admittance would reintroduce politics of division in Abia, which was the most prominent trait of his years in Abia PDP.

“Orji Uzor Kalu has never ceased being a member and Board of Trustees Chairman of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), a party he has used consistently to oppose the leadership of PDP in Abia”.

“Only recently, he had gathered his ‘supporters’ at his Igbere Country Home, cajoled, despised and berated the PDP. Orji Uzor Kalu did not only declare his intention to run for Abia North Senate under his PPA, he boasted how PPA would drive PDP out of Government House Umuahia in 2015.

“Orji Uzor Kalu seems to have fraternized with those who are in opposition with PDP more than any person living or dead. There are ominous signs everywhere that PDP’s political enemies are his friends.

“Whereas, we concede to Orji Uzor Kalu the right to freedom of association especially with PDP’s enemies, we reecho in clear terms what Ochereome Nnanna (Vanguard February 20, 2014) wrote that, “A person’s right of association depends whether the group he seeks to join is willing to have him as their member.

“If, for any reason, a group does not consider you worthy of being their member, you cannot impose yourself on them, and I don’t think any court can force you on them.

“The two sides must be willing to cohabit. If a group decides you do not possess the qualities worthy of their membership it has the right to keep you at bay, your constitutional rights notwithstanding.

“We are not willing to have Orji Uzor Kalu readmitted to Abia PDP”, the group declared.

According to the petition, Youths across the 183 political wards, in the 17 local government areas and three Senatorial Zones of Abia urged the former Governor to distance himself from the party and desist from act that will create division within it.

Other PDP top officials who were sent copies of the petition were the Senate President, David Mark and Chairman, Board of Trustee, (BOT) Chief Toni Anenih.