A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Justin Okafor, has described Governor Willie Obiano’s aides as “misguided”.
He was reacting to the statement by Mr. Arinzechukwu Awogu, whom he described as the “13th out of the 15 Senior Special Assistants to Obiano on Politics,” that the Ndigbo should ostracize Mr. Peter Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra State, for saying that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan gave Ndigbo an identity, as published in many newspapers.
In a statement made available to the press, Okafor said it was unfortunate that “out of 71 aides that reportedly travelled from Anambra for the Congress, that they left their principal and his actions, including hiring of limousine and walking out on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, unreported to report Mr. Peter Obi out of context.”
Okafor who said that he was defending Obi by his virtue of being their leader in the PDP, stated: “As already reported in various newspapers, Obi merely called for unity among Ndigbo and eulogized Predident Goodluck Jonathan, under whose government Igbo people rose to the highest peak in various arms of the Military and who also equitably appointed Ndigbo into various positions they could not occupy under previous governments. He also remembered him for according Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu unparalleled care and burial thereafter.”
Okafor further said that the aide should have reported the news of the overflow of happiness over the presentation of an award by the Congress to Mr. Peter Obi for his exemplary governance of Anambra State and for his deep and sincere commitment to the progress of Igboland and the ovation that greeted his speech. He noted that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was also slated for an award, but for his understandable absence.
On the Enugu-Onitsha dual carriage way which Obiano’s aide lamented its state, Okafor noted that Head bridge-Upper-Iweka-Zik’s round about- parts of Umunya were in worst condition than the portions he mentioned before Obi got permission to rehabilitate those portions and get reimbursed. “Even before he handed over, he also secured permission and was doing the Amansea-Amawbia Round About. If the spirit of continuity was followed, by now, Anambra Government would have completed the entire stretch of road, with the money set aside by Obi and with reimbursement assured.”
On other achievements, Okafor said the South East was dear to Jonathan who did a lot on erosion control, the upgrade of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, the siting of many federal establishments, including the Naval base in Odekpe, Onitsha, the commencement of the Second Niger Bridge, among others. “Because of this, Obi expressed hope and indeed called on the Congress to remain prayerful for President Mohammadu Buhari to continue on the same line”, Okafor further submitted.
Okafor wondered why the comments of Obiano’s numerous aides and hired Social media “warriors” are at variance with the spirit of peace and reconciliation and called on their Principal to demonstrate genuine by sacking those aides that usually heap insults on Obi rather than elevate them as is currently the case as demonstrated by Arinze Awogu and Mr. Egbuna Amuta, who was appointed an SSA because he produced two damaging films on Obi.