PDP Asks Abia House To Drop Bid To Sack Deputy Governor
FROM GORDI UDEAJAH, UMUAHIA
MEMBERS of the Abia House of Assembly have been urged to stop their bid to impeach Deputy Governor Chima Nwafor.
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which intervened in the saga, has held meetings with the lawmakers, where they were told to sheathe their sword.
Already, Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has appealed to the House to review their stance on the removal of Nwafor from office.
The latest directive to the House came on Thursday evening in Umuahia after a meeting with Chief Ozichukwu Chukwu, the South East National Vice Chairman of the PDP.
In attendance were Nwafor, his colleagues from Imo and Ebonyi, their party state chairmen, representatives of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and Mr. Stanley Ohajuruka, Speaker of the House.
Ozichukwu argued that Kalu, who was directly hurt by Nwafor's action, which reason was given as the cause of the impeachment bid had forgiven the deputy governor. The PDP chieftain urged the House to emulate Kalu's example.
Ohajuruka said that he and the majority leader who represented the lawmakers would take the party's directive to them. He stressed the sanctity of the party and its supremacy, adding that both the rule of law and the provisions of the constitution ought not to be over looked.
The speaker was optimistic that the issue would be dealt with by the House in line with the thinking of the PDP.
Nwafor, who was elated by the development, thanked the PDP leaders for their prompt intervention.
Also, the state chapter of the party has resolved to monitor the action of the newly elected councillors and release reports on their performances every month. A forum in each ward would be established where reports of the councillors' performance would be received and monitored.
Its chairman, Chief Uzodinma Okpara disclosed this while addressing the PDP newly elected councillors during a two-day seminar organised for them at the Abia State University.
Two weeks ago, the party's 16 elected chairmen attended a one-month course at the same university.
Okpara said the seminar was to acquaint the officials on what the people expected from them and their relationship with government. He was optimistic that at the end of the seminar, the councillors would be in a better position to discuss and diligently handle council matters.
The chairman urged them to strive to work in harmony with their non-PDP councillors and chairmen.
Kalu, who was represented by Professor Chibuzor-Ogbuagu, Secretary to the State Government, stressed the need for them to abide by the supremacy of the party. His words "The party is supreme to all its political appointees and elected officials."
