05th of September 2010
| I never dumped PDP – Chris Uba |
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Describing the reports as cheap blackmail, Uba said it was the handiwork of his political opponents who he said, had vowed to pull him down by all means, but added that their plan had as usual failed. His reaction came just as the Ekwunife Campaign Organisation described the newspaper report as “mischievous, not true and unfounded.” Uba who spoke with Daily Sun yesterday said it was the same group of people who wanted to link him with the kidnap of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s father that were responsible for the latest “campaign of calumny.” Assuring that he was still a bonafide member of the PDP, Uba said: “That as a founding member of the PDP, which I have invested so much in terms of time, image and resources, it will be ridiculous for me to abandon the party by temporary irritation by outsiders who are masquerading as emergency PDP members whose only objective is to use the platform of the party for self aggrandisement.” The political godfather stressed that no amount of blackmail would cow him from his fight against imposition and disobedience to rule of law, noting that in any case, “If I am disenchanted with my party, which I am not, I will simply go home and face my business.” Uba further said, “My attention has been called to a publication in Sunday Sun of November 8, 2009 in which it was alleged that I have dumped PDP. I never for one day dumped PDP and I never for one day planned, thought or dreamt of leaving my party. I have no reason of leaving my party. I love my party. “This is pure blackmail of my person by my opponents. They tried to rope me in the kidnap of Soludo’s father and that one failed. This same group of people have now again come up with another blackmail that I have dumped my party to give support to PPA all in a bid to tarnish my image, and put me and my party at a loggerhead. “From the tone of that story which is no doubt planted and the line of argument you will know who the real authors are. But it is a pity that a journalist would allow himself to be used to malign an innocent person this way. “I am surprised at the way this people are going about this thing as if it is a do-or-die affair. Why would we play politics with everything? First you tried to link me with kidnap, which carries a capital punishment in Anambra State and when that one could not work, they kept on threatening my life asking me to dump the cause I believe in. Now they came up with this dumping of the party to ensure that I am seen as a man that is so desperate and thirsty for power. “Let me make it clear that nothing will stop us from encouraging rule of law and due process, which our dear President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is championing. And as far as Yar’Adua remains President of Nigeria and leader of our party I will continue to support him and the party. “As a member of the BOT of our great party, if I must leave the party for any reason whatsoever, which, however, is not in my plan, I must first of all notify the national leadership of the party, and not on the pages of newspapers, that I strongly oppose and will continue to oppose imposition of candidate on our party without the consensus of our aspirants does not translate to leaving the party. “Worse in this blackmail is linking my person with the PPA and its candidates. If I say no to imposition of Soludo, an issue I am still pursuing and hope to obtain justice from the party, why will I dump my party? This is just cheap blackmail and campaign of calumny against my person. “I wish to use this medium to state that I am and remain a bonafide and loyal member of PDP and no amount of arm-twisting, cheap blackmail and campaign of calumny will cow me from abdicating my responsibility towards ensuring that rule of law and due process are abided with in Anambra PDP. “Finally, their kite will not fly and their nefarious plans will not work. PDP will recapture the Government House, Awka and I will play my own noble role in that victorious effort.” Also reacting to the report, the Director of Communications, Ekwunife Campaign Organisation, Mr. Chinedu Onuah, while describing it as mischievous, stated that there had been no contact between Uba and Ekwunife or any ongoing discussion between the two as regards the latter’s governorship aspiration. Insisting that the report on Uba backing Ekwunife was fabricated, Onuah said, “Ekwunife has no godfather or godmother and is not looking for one. Her hope lies in the electorate and God. Power comes from the people and God. Uba is not a member of the PPA and he has not indicated any interest in the party, people should not create mischief.” He, however, noted that the PPA like its candidate was willing to accommodate and work with any citizen of Anambra State who has the welfare and interest of the people at heart, adding that the PPA standard bearer had been busy working hard to convince the people of the state to vote for PPA, and could not afford any distraction at the moment. He said, “While the PPA candidate respects Uba as a political leader in the state, the truth is that there is no discussion going on between them.” |
© - 2009 Anambra Broadcasting Service.
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