TheCable

Immediate-past governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obi, who served two terms as governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), announced the decision during a visit of top members of the PDP in the southeast to his residence in Onitsha.

Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former chairman of PDP, told Obi that the PDP visitors were there to request him to join them in PDP and “work with us as an insider and no more an outsider”.

“PDP was founded by our own man, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and we started winning 80 per cent in the Southeast zone until such a time when we drew backwards but we believe that with you in our midst, we shall return to our winning spree. I now move a motion requesting you to here and now give us your word,” Nwodo said.

Governor of Abia state, Theodore Orji, said it was not late for Obi to join the PDP and work at the centre for the good of the country. He described Obi as a man of integrity, who came out strongly on issues and would be an asset to the country at the federal level.

“If some of your people do not believe in you; if we do not admire you; if they do not realise your potentials, we gathered here are telling you that Nigerians believe in you and admire you,” Orji said.

“We are here today to discuss the future and progress of the southeast geopolitical zone with our brother Mr. Peter Obi, who was the immediate past governor of Anambra.

“Having reviewed with him the state of the country and how it affects our people, we came to the conclusion that our interest in the country is better served when we remain together as brothers and sister under one party and speak with one voice.

“We all agreed that politics globally is dynamic and changes from time to time. In Nigeria, for example, we have moved from regional parties to regional politics, which requires our people staying together and speaking with one voice. We in the east should do the same in the interest of our people. We therefore appeal to him to join the Peoples Democratic Party since that is the party majority of our people belong to.’’

Deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, recalled that during his time in APGA, Obi extended hands of friendship to everybody that would contribute to the development of Anambra.

He praised Obi for demonstrating leadership and integrity, saying his friendship with the president and commitment to Nigeria prompted them to convince him to join the PDP.

Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha said the decision to appeal to Obi to join the PDP was “collective”, while secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Pius Anyim, expressed optimism that the forum would convince the ex-governor.

Responding, Obi expressed “sincere appreciation” for the visit by people he considered “important political leaders from the southeast”.

“I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country,” he said.

“I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people.

“Regarding your visit of today, let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but in the best interest of our people.”

He said joining a national party was not about happenings in APGA, but because of “the need to be a competitor and not a spectator” in national affairs.

Obi enjoys a cordial relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan.

In January, the national executive committee of APGA appointed him national leader and chairman of the party’s board of trustees, but he resigned in August.

APGA played a major role in shaping the political career of Obi, as Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, its founder, was actively involved in the electioneering campaign of the former governor, particularly during his second-term bid in 2010.

Obi is not the only bigwig to have joined the ruling party from an opposition party in recent times.

On Thursday, governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko announced his defection to PDP from Labour Party (LP), on whose platform he contested and won two governorship elections.