Frontline politician and a chieftain of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP in Imo State, Nnodim Okechukwu Felix has vowed to restore
the glory of the PDP in Owerri municipal if elected the party’s Chairman in the
Municipality.
Nnodim, who is one of the founders of the party in
Owerri Municipal, outlined how he played a major role when the party was
founded, expressing worry how the party has drifted since then.
He said despite been a victim of political injustice,
high- handedness and imposition in Owerri municipal PDP, he has remained a
dedicated and loyal party member having not defected to any other political
party in the last 16 years.
Speaking to journalists in Owerri, he said in the past
he played key roles to ensure the PDP won all elective positions, assuring that
he will take the party back to winning ways if elected party chairman having
proved his mettle by succeeding in all political assignments assigned to him in
the party in the past.
He said his candidature will lead to problems for
other political parties as he will ensure that such political parties are
emptied by the time he comes on board as the party chairman in Owerri municipal
PDP.
He said he is the most prepared for the position
having consulted widely with all the leaders in the wards, pointing out that
he is confident of victory when congress eventually holds.
The one time co-coordinator Yar’Adua/Odili/Jonathan
presidential network in Owerri municipal added that there is need for the party
congress to be masses or people driven, saying that the era of imposition is
over and should never return to the party. He said imposition is one huge
factor that has affected the progress of the party in recent times.
The Owerri municipal PDP chairmanship hopeful who
has also held various positions in and outside party having being Vice Chairman
designate to former Owerri Municipal Council Chairmen, such as Oshieze Vincent
Ehirim, Emma Odor and coordinated the political campaigns in Owerri municipal for
late Senator Evan Enwerem, Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi and others, said his
chairmanship bid when it succeeds will lead to rebuilding and uniting the party
in the area.
He admitted that the PDP is experiencing political
wrangling at the moment but expressed hope that as soon as the congress is
over, the party will overcome its challenges and bounce back to victory.
He said “Congress has a PDP culture, factions always
exist but we resolve issues amicably at the end of the day”
Nnodim who was one time co-coordinator, Obasanjo
Solidarity Forum (OSF) between 2002-2003 advised the PDP heavyweights not to
resort to do or die affair as a means to take control of the party, explaining
that party members should see the PDP as their only party.
He said there
is need for party members to work together, attributing the genesis of the crisis
in the PDP to the introduction of the Kashim Formula and other factors which
contributed significantly to push out other members of the PDP.
He promised to be a rallying point for the party as
he will be transparent and lead the party with the fear of God when elected the
party chairman in the area.
READ RELATED ARTICLES ON OWERRI MUNICIPAL PDP
Owerri Municipal PDP Is Cesspit Of Corruption, Says Aggrieved Party Members, As Reconciliation Moves Crumble
BY UCHENNNA UFOMADU
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Owerri municipal has continued to
remain a cesspit of corruption just as attempts to broker peace in the party in
the area has crumbled.
The party has continued to be in tatters after some aggrieved members accused the leadership of the party of diverting millions of naira provided for the re- election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in the municipality during the April 2015 Presidential polls.
The aggrieved members in their hundreds led by Hon Ebere Chukwuemeka last week re- echoed their accusation, accusing the party leadership in the area led by one Paul Ajunwa of converting party funds for personal use.
Ebere had alleged that the party approved N30, 000 per booth during the election only for the party leaders in the municipality to embezzle the funds and provide PDP agents with kitchen items such as salt, indomie noodles and morning fresh.
The House of Assembly candidate who was a former Local Government Chairman of the area was also accused of conniving with the party leaders to divert N14 million naira during the election period.The party leadership in the State waded into the matter and sued for peace and reconciliation as a basis to resolve all differences.
This peace move appears not to have fazed the aggrieved group who are insisting in the exit of the party chairman in the municipality for acts bordering on corruption.
Ebere had told INNONEWS.COM recently that the aggrieved party members stand for justice.
“We want justice. We will not condemn the reconciliation moves initiated by the State party leadership. But that does not change our position. We want the bad eggs to go. We are waiting for the congress. We challenge them to a Congress which will come very soon.
“Injustice has been prevalent in Owerri Municipal PDP for a long time. The party has been run like a cartel for several years and this is why the PDP has continuously lost to the opposition in Owerri, the State capital.
“If the party intends to achieve success in 2019, there must be total rebranding. Such deceitful persons should have no place in the party anymore
Denying the allegations, the party chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa said his accusers are merely causing disaffection in the party.
He said “They want to take over the leadership of the party in the area by force. Is it done that way” he said.
He refused to respond to allegations of corruption, saying he was instructed not to speak on the matter publicly.
Since 2007, the PDP in Owerri has severally been battered at the polls.
A party leader in the area, Chief Joe Ukachukwu told INNONEWS.COM that the party is like a fish with a rotten head.
He said “The party was doing well between 1999 and 2003 when the party was run by sincere, competent leaders. We won elections in a free and fair manner. Our candidates were accepted by the people.
“The story began to change in 2007 when some political charlatans invaded the area. Men of questionable character who had no visible source of livelihood came into the party. They saw politics as 419.
“They began to handpick party officers. A particular leader will sit in his house and appoint his brothers, sisters, cousins as party executive members.
“Delegates of the party were selected through handpicking. Most of the delegates are also those loyal to the cartel. They ignored the procedure for electing delegates as stipulated by the party.
“They appoint ward chairmen loyal to them. These ward chairmen are their surrogates. They retire the party’s campaign funds to them
Ukachukwu continued “When PDP was in power in the State especially during the reign of Ikedi Ohakim as governor, those who got appointments were loyalists of this cartel.
“When elections come, they simply diverted party funds to their pockets and this severally contributed to our failure in the municipality which is the seat of government in Imo State
“What happened in 2015 was not an exception. They diverted the monies to their bank accounts and this was why all our candidates from the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential candidates failed in Owerri municipa.
“These so called leaders only wait for elections to amass wealth, it is very unfortunate. It is sad. Things have to change” he concluded.
The party has continued to be in tatters after some aggrieved members accused the leadership of the party of diverting millions of naira provided for the re- election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in the municipality during the April 2015 Presidential polls.
The aggrieved members in their hundreds led by Hon Ebere Chukwuemeka last week re- echoed their accusation, accusing the party leadership in the area led by one Paul Ajunwa of converting party funds for personal use.
Ebere had alleged that the party approved N30, 000 per booth during the election only for the party leaders in the municipality to embezzle the funds and provide PDP agents with kitchen items such as salt, indomie noodles and morning fresh.
The House of Assembly candidate who was a former Local Government Chairman of the area was also accused of conniving with the party leaders to divert N14 million naira during the election period.The party leadership in the State waded into the matter and sued for peace and reconciliation as a basis to resolve all differences.
This peace move appears not to have fazed the aggrieved group who are insisting in the exit of the party chairman in the municipality for acts bordering on corruption.
Ebere had told INNONEWS.COM recently that the aggrieved party members stand for justice.
“We want justice. We will not condemn the reconciliation moves initiated by the State party leadership. But that does not change our position. We want the bad eggs to go. We are waiting for the congress. We challenge them to a Congress which will come very soon.
“Injustice has been prevalent in Owerri Municipal PDP for a long time. The party has been run like a cartel for several years and this is why the PDP has continuously lost to the opposition in Owerri, the State capital.
“If the party intends to achieve success in 2019, there must be total rebranding. Such deceitful persons should have no place in the party anymore
Denying the allegations, the party chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa said his accusers are merely causing disaffection in the party.
He said “They want to take over the leadership of the party in the area by force. Is it done that way” he said.
He refused to respond to allegations of corruption, saying he was instructed not to speak on the matter publicly.
Since 2007, the PDP in Owerri has severally been battered at the polls.
A party leader in the area, Chief Joe Ukachukwu told INNONEWS.COM that the party is like a fish with a rotten head.
He said “The party was doing well between 1999 and 2003 when the party was run by sincere, competent leaders. We won elections in a free and fair manner. Our candidates were accepted by the people.
“The story began to change in 2007 when some political charlatans invaded the area. Men of questionable character who had no visible source of livelihood came into the party. They saw politics as 419.
“They began to handpick party officers. A particular leader will sit in his house and appoint his brothers, sisters, cousins as party executive members.
“Delegates of the party were selected through handpicking. Most of the delegates are also those loyal to the cartel. They ignored the procedure for electing delegates as stipulated by the party.
“They appoint ward chairmen loyal to them. These ward chairmen are their surrogates. They retire the party’s campaign funds to them
Ukachukwu continued “When PDP was in power in the State especially during the reign of Ikedi Ohakim as governor, those who got appointments were loyalists of this cartel.
“When elections come, they simply diverted party funds to their pockets and this severally contributed to our failure in the municipality which is the seat of government in Imo State
“What happened in 2015 was not an exception. They diverted the monies to their bank accounts and this was why all our candidates from the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship and Presidential candidates failed in Owerri municipa.
“These so called leaders only wait for elections to amass wealth, it is very unfortunate. It is sad. Things have to change” he concluded.
2015 Election: How PDP Leaders In Owerri Municipal 'Pocketed' Jonathan's Millions Of Naria
(PUBLISHED Wednesday, 16 December 2015)
The embezzlement of campaign funds for the 2015 presidential and governorship election in Owerri municipal, Imo State capital led to the colossal failure of the party in the area.
Also, injustice, corruption and nepotism by PDP leaders in the area has been fingered as some of the recurring factors that has made the party to consistently lose the Imo State capital to the opposition party
This revelation was disclosed by aggrieved members of the party at a get together ceremony organized by them in Owerri Municipal .They are also displeased with the manner some party leaders indiscriminately embezzled party funds for 2015 election in the area including monies earmarked for the area for the re- election of then President Goodluck Jonathan.
The party members led by Hon. Ebere Chukwuemeka had in September, 2015 accused some leaders of the PDP of corruption and diversion of party funds, alleging that the sum of N30, 000 which was approved for each booth in several wards in Owerri municipal and another million of naria set aside released by Jonathan for election logistics was stolen by some party leaders in collaboration with the party chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa.
At a stakeholders meeting held in Owerri Tuesday, Ebere recalled that the party has been subdued by these same set of leaders since 2007.
“These leaders are selfish. They converted monies for party members during the election for their personal use, converting such huge sums of money to indomie, morning fresh and salt. This is unacceptable.
“Some leaders pocketed the campaign funds of the party. This was why we lost the election. Since 2003, PDP has never won elections in Owerri municipal because of the presence of these selfish and self-centered leaders who sabotage the party by pocketing millions of naira for party members during elections.
“They sit in their homes and write the names of delegates. They handpick their brothers and sisters who are not PDP members and appoint them as party executives.This has been our ordeal in the PDP in Owerri municipal, which is the seat of government
He described the Municipal PDP chairman, Deacon Paul Ajunwa as the stooge of the some of the selfish party leaders, stating that he was never elected as party chairman through any congress.
“He was never elected as Chairman through Congress. He was simply handpicked by these greedy leaders. He must step aside because he and his cohorts have consistently ripped the party in Owerri municipal apart.
“We want no reconciliation. We want the party chairman to subject himself to the forthcoming congress. This is a new PDP and such leaders who embezzle party funds should have no place in PDP anymore.
" We are waiting for them at the congress. Let them subject themselves to the congress. If PDP wants to move forward, the will of party members must prevail.
In his remarks, a former Chairman of PDP in Owerri Municipal, Joe Nwachukwu said the party failed in the last polls because of the depth of corruption of the party leaders.
“Our party leaders are simply corrupt. They are selfish and only care for themselves. Imagine a situation where they connived with the so- called House of Assembly candidate in Owerri municipal who was not duly elected at the primaries to steal N14 million naira of our party funds.
“ We want change in PDP. Change from the old ways and we must get that change in the coming congress
.
The last may not have been heard why the Peoples Democratic Party PDP lost the 2015 governorship election in Imo State.
He advocated for new
faces in the PDP as the party’s congress draws near, adding that only such
persons will energize PDP to bounce back to power in Imo State
PUBLISHED Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Fallout Of Imo Guber Election: How PDP Leaders Converted Money To Indomie For Party Agents
 |
| IHEDIOHA..Guber Bid Sabotaged? |
The last may not have been heard why the Peoples Democratic Party PDP lost the 2015 governorship election in Imo State.
One of the reasons is
that some party leaders did not utilize the huge sum of money made available to
them by the party for the governorship election.
This blog gathered that
in Owerri municipal, one of the key PDP strongholds in Imo State, some aggrieved party stakeholders are now raising dust,
alleging that some party leaders in the area diverted monies meant for those who will hold
forte for the party at the polling booths.
Some stakeholders in
Owerri municipal, in a resolution endorsed by one Ebere Chukwuemeka (ABJ) and
co signed by over 1000 PDP stakeholders, alleged that some party leaders in the
area in collaboration with the municipal PDP chairman used the
money to purchase Indomies and other items for the party's personnel at the
polling booths during the elections.
He alleged “ The thirty
thousand naria (N30,000) per a booth largeese which was given to every local
Government in the State, whereas all the local distributed theirs but Owerri
Municipal party chairman and his godfathers used our own money to buy Indomie, matches, salt and morning fresh for party agents manning the polling booths.
He expressed regret that while the people of
Owerri zone were determined to ensure that one of their sons, the PDP
candidate, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha won the governorship election, some party leaders and godfathers
sabotaged the efforts.
PUBLISHED Tuesday, 22 September 2015
Corruption Denied Imo PDP Victory In Guber Polls, Says Iwuanyanwu
Iwuanyanawu whose state lost the guber polls to the All Progressive Congress, APC spoke while receiving aggrieved members of the PDP in Owerri municipal in his glass house office.
He said there were widespread cases of fraud and diversion of party funds by PDP members in various local governments in the State during the elections which cost the party victory.
He said PDP is undergoing changes as it will not relent in searching for credible leaders before the next political dispensation.
In his remarks, Leader of aggrieved PDP members in Owerri municipal, Ebere Chukwuemeka said party funds for the presidential and governorship elections were diverted by party leaders in the municipality .
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