.. Say he’s APC mole in PDP, threaten recall
By Oscar Kambona
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State has has withdrawn support for the member representing the federal constituency, Hon. Uko Nkole.
The withdrawal is part of the ongoing feud between the stakeholders of the party in the council and Nkole.
The party said that the arrangement was in top gear for his recall, contending that he was a mole in the party and should be shown the way out.
The stakeholders took the decision after a meeting in Umuahia, expressing displeasure over the Abam-born lawmaker, who they accused of causing division in Arochukwu council.
Addressing the media after the meeting, which was attended by PDP members from the five clans in Arochukwu LGA, former Chief Whip of Arochukwu Legislative Council, Hon. Cletus Nwankwo, accused Nkole of “biting the finger that fed him”, just as he noted further that Nkole “openly worked against the candidate of PDP in the 2019 Abia North senatorial poll because he is a mole for the opposition APC”.
The two-term legislator was asked to perish his thoughts on contesting for the governorship race in 2023 as such ambition was dead on arrival.
“Openly working against the interest of the party is treachery and grievous sabotage and moreover we are tired of his deaf and dumb representation” the stakeholders noted.
Hon Nwankwo said that instead of helping to build a virile PDP family in Arochukwu, Nkole was busy romancing with APC “in desperation to actualise his wishful governorship quest”.
According to him, “When NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) donated relief materials to Isu community, Nkole during the presentation of the items never consulted with any PDP member in the council.
“He didn’t even have the courtesy of informing any government appointee from the council but on his entourage were prominent APC leaders. There was no representation of the PDP in Abia. That left us with doubts over his claims of being a PDP member.”
The stakeholders further accused the lawmaker of not doing enough to improve on the living standards of the people, saying he has not attracted any meaningful project to the constituency since his five year sojourn at the green chamber.
“Instead of attracting projects like his predecessors, he is busy causing divisions in Arochukwu including his own Abam community engulfed in chieftaincy tussle.” they noted.
They further accused the lawmaker of spending much time in his Abam country home “plotting how to become governor in 2023” instead of fighting for the right of his constituents at the national assembly.
“Let him tell us any single motion or bill he has sponsored since he went to Abuja five years ago. He is always absent from sittings at the House while his colleagues are making meaningful contributions. We are ashamed of him because he’s the dullest of all lawmakers that have represented our constituency.
“We are tired of deaf and dumb representation. Even first-timers like his Bende counterpart, Hon. Benjamin Kalu is the chairman of a House committee and doing well. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha representing Isuikwuato /Umunneochi is a principal officer and fighting like a lion, but ask Nkole why though a second-term member, he can’t head a committee.”
“Let him show why we won’t see him as a traitor when all his friends are from APC. He has messed up his political career. He is a little boy that has eaten fat and wants to challenge every other man in Arochukwu but he will fail woefully! Uko is only trying to launch a war against forces beyond him.
“We know he cannot be governor; he is only a joker. Nobody can even trust him for Deputy-governorship position how much more a Governor.
“We know his plans. He only wants to truncate the unwritten rotation arrangement between Arochukwu and Ohafia LGAs but we want to assure him that the House of Representatives seat will move to Ohafia come 2023.”
While pledging their “unalloyed loyalty” and support to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, they advised the governor to “beware of wolves in sheep clothing.”
Some of the stakeholders present at the meeting were former Secretary to State Government, Mazi Donatus Okorie; former Commissioner for Commerce and lawmaker, Dr. Sampson Orji (represented by Mike Onwuchekwa); and former Arochukwu LGA Chairmen, Kingsley Ngunu, and James Kalu. Others were former Speaker Arochukwu Legislative Council, Nwabueze Okoro (Proper); former Council PDP Chairmen, Tony Nwankwo, and Obinna Nwankwo.