Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, a former Commissioner for Lands in Imo State has appealed to an ex-governor of the state, Chief Emeka Ihedioha to cross over to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
He made the statement after Ihedioha recently resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In his resignation letter, addressed to the PDP chairman in Mbutu Ward, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Ihedioha cited a misalignment between his personal beliefs and the current trajectory of the main opposition party.
The former governor lamented recent developments within the PDP, stating that the party has deviated from its core principles.
He voiced concerns over the party’s inability to enact internal reforms, uphold its own regulations, and effectively oppose the ruling APC.
“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken on a path that is at variance with my personal beliefs. Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly, no longer able to carry out internal reforms, enforce its own rules or offer credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party effective immediately,” Ihedioha said in the resignation letter.
Ihedioha’s action led to a wave of high profile resignations in the PDP in Imo State, as the state chairman, Chief Charles Ugwu, a former deputy governor, Engr Gerald Irona, and one-time Education Commissioner, Prof Jude Njoku, also quit the party.
Reacting to the development in an interview with journalists, Nwosu, who served as Chief of Staff to ex-Imo governor Rochas Okorocha, urged Ihedioha and the other former Imo PDP chieftains to join the APC and work with Governor Hope Uzodimma for the development and growth of the state.
According to him, joining the ruling APC would afford them the opportunity to work together with the governor and other patriotic citizens to move lmo forward.
Nwosu also noted that joining the APC would give Ihedioha and the other former Imo PDP chieftains a platform to effectively contribute to the success of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Nwosu said, “l have been watching and following the developments in the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and l know that some big names in the party have resigned their membership, including Rt. Hon. lhedioha, his deputy in the 2019 governorship election, Hon. lrona, and a good number of other leaders and key members of the party.
“l know that since they left, a lot of people including my humble self, have been wondering what could be or what is likely to be their next political action or move and there have been a lot of speculations to that effect.
“I have also considered a lot of factors or indices and have seen that the most popular action for them to take in this situation is to join the ruling party, APC.
“This is the most progressive action for them to take. Joining APC is the only people-orientated action they should take now. And that would give them room to work with President Bola Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodimma and other leaders in the party at both the national and state levels, for the progress of our dear country.
“I also know that the moment they decide to join the APC, they would be most welcome and everybody would work as a team to move the state forward and by extension, the South East and the entire nation.”
Nwosu described lhedioha and the others as big political assets and commended them for their decision to leave the PDP.
According to him, “there is no better option or alternative for them as a matter of fact than to move into the APC immediately and be on the same political lane with the President, the governor and other stakeholders in the APC”.
He prayed that God would guide them to see the reasons or wisdom in toeing his line of thought.