The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has tendered an open apology to Abians for not meeting up with their expectations over the years, which according to them, contributed to their defeat in the last gubernatorial election in the State.
Addressing journalists at the PDP secretariat in Umuahia, shortly after the party’s stakeholders meeting, the Vice Chairman of the party cum Acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, said the party has learnt from the enormous mistakes made stating its readiness to rewrite the wrongs.
He said the party is committed to do things differently this time stressing that the lesson learned from their mistakes would be used to chat a new course for the party well expressing happiness that the party across the 17 local government areas of the state is still intact
Narrating further Elder Amah disclosed that the PDP administration was carried away by its welfarist agenda of engaging the youths paying less attention to their integral part of governance which later worked against them at the polls.
Amah disclosed that the last administration engaged over 12,000 Abia youths, payrolling them monthly and regretted the high number of youths engaged and the huge wage bill expanded monthly for their payment, adding that, part of the funds would have been directed for the payment of pensions and other allowances of workers.
He said though the Dr. Ikpeazu’s administration paid 51 months out of the 96 months in office and left unpaid 45 months, aside clearing back log of pension arrears inherited from the previous government.
Elder Amah, however, expressed optimism that Abia PDP would bounce back again, especially with the lineup for political heavy weights that would be joining the party in coming days.
Reacting to the recent defection that rocked the party recently, the acting PDP spokesman said it is imperative for a tree to shade its dried leaves, so as to give way for fresh ones. He said over the years the PDP became so big and because of lack of pudding, the party suffered so much in the last election.
Earlier in the meeting, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, vowed that the era of imposition was over in the party, adding that the party would now allow the members choose its leaders.
Meanwhile the party chairman in the state, Rt Hon. Asiforo, urged the members of the party to remain resolute and continue with their supports for the party.
