Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has charged the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, with leading the party’s rebirth.
He gave the charge in Umuahia, Abia State, during the 76th birthday celebration and civic reception organised in honour of the former President of the Senate on his emergence as the substantive Chairman of the PDP’s BOT.
In his address, Mbah, who is the only PDP governor in the South East, recalled the party’s glorious days, which also produced Senator Wabara as the President of the Senate, and tasked the elder statesman on reenacting that golden era to return PDP to the pinnacle of glory.
“It is interesting to note that just a few days ago, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of our present democratic rule as a nation.
“And it is also befitting that today, we are here to celebrate an icon of democracy, Senator Adolphus Wabara. I want you to join me to toast to a man, who held sway during the glorious era of our party.
“It is also my hope and prayer that this great son of Igbo land would bring his experience to bear, to inspire the renaissance of our party, so that the party can rise to the zenith of the political landscape of this country,” Mbah said.
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion and Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, regretted that the party’s fortunes had dwindled in the South East zone, but expressed confidence that it would bounce back both in the zone and nationally.
Makinde, who spoke on behalf of other PDP governors and party leaders, said that the South East zone of Nigeria remained an important part of the country.
“You have four governors from four out of the six zones of Nigeria here present, and that is because we have come to celebrate a great man and a unifier.
“Wabara has done so much for this country, as a Senate President, and diplomat, and for the party as the secretary of the BOT, an acting BOT chairman, and now the BOT chairman.
“This kind of occasion has given us the opportunity to come together as a party. The party in the South East has gone through a lot. Out of the five states in the South East, Governor Peter Mbah is the only PDP governor in the zone. But, this used to be a zone where the PDP usually had four out of five. This type of occasion, therefore, gives us the opportunity to send the message that the best of the PDP is still ahead of us. So, do not relent. I want to encourage you. No matter what you are going through at this stage, please, don’t be discouraged,” Makinde said.
Wabara likened the PDP to a bug home where many grandchildren had left their progenitor’s name to bear a different surname, noting, however, that whatever name or political party those who left the PDP go by today, they would ultimately return.
Governor Otti described Wabara as a good man, while also urging Nigerians to work together, irrespective of party differences. “Elections are over, now is the time for governance.”