Opposition to Tinubu’s visit to Abia outdated political strategy –Onuma

 From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

A Chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), in Abia State, Prince Kalu Ireke Onuma, has described opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state to commission some projects completed by the Dr. Alex Otti administration as an outdated political strategy that has no place in the present dispensation.

Prince Onuma says it is laughable to see PDP revert to the politics of the 60s, where acrimony and hate were the order of the day.

He dismissed the opposition as a divisive strategy that would prevent Tinubu from gaining political leverage in Abia state because, by their calculations, they believe they will be coming back to power at the centre and Abia in 2027.

He said, “I believe the PDP’s argument against President Bola Tinubu commissioning the Port Harcourt Road is a strategy devised by the PDP hierarchy to prevent him from gaining any political leverage in Abia State.

“Given the economic and strategic importance of the road in Aba, it would be advantageous for the President to visit Abia State and not only commission the Julius Berger-built Port Harcourt Road but also inaugurate other commendable projects initiated under Dr. Alex Otti’s pragmatic leadership.

“It is both misguided and politically naive for the Abia State PDP to believe they have the standing to determine who should commission projects they failed to build during their 24 years in power in Abia State.”

Highlighting the importance of the road to Aba, Onuma stated that the Coca-Cola bottling company and other industries, as well as the Crystal Park Hotel, a four-star establishment that had hosted notable musicians, including Fela Anukulakpo Kuti, have all closed as a result of the abandonment of the road by the previous PDP regime.

“With the reconstruction of the road and its subsequent commissioning by the president, those industries will resume operations in Aba, thereby providing employment opportunities for thousands of job-seeking graduates and residents in the state.

“The 24 years of PDP leadership in Abia State, marked by rampant corruption and mismanagement, have contributed to making the state one of the poorest in the federation. Therefore, the leadership of the Abia State PDP should refrain from distracting the transformational efforts of Dr. Alex Otti”, Onuma added.