A former governor of Enugu State and Senator representing Enugu East senatorial District, Chimaroke Nnamani, has faulted the decision of the PDP to ignore five of its governors as it commenced presidential campaigns for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Sam Ortom of Benue State, Ikpeazu Okezie of Abia State, and Ifeanyi Uguanya of Enugu State have said they will not support the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, unless Iyorchia Ayu resigns as the party chair.
After several efforts to the aggrieved governors to reverse their decision fail, the party commenced its campaign in Uyo on Monday.
Reacting, however, Nnamani, in a statement he signed on Tuesday, said the PDP leadership should have done more in a give-and-take manner to carry the aggrieved party faithful along.
The statement was titled ‘2023 PDP Presidential Campaigns: Ignoring Five Governors, Discouraging – Sen Nnamani.’
He said, “Today, I go on record in total condemnation of the treatment of the five governors mostly from the southern states within the PDP. The governors are our leaders and their humiliation rubs off on all of us.”
Nnamani recalled that state governors were not treated with ignominy during his days.
He cautioned against erecting parallel structures in the five governors’ states, stressing that “politics is local and the folks from these affected states parading with the PDP leadership will not deliver their polling booths without the governors.
“Without the involvement of the governors that are our leaders, these mere cheerleaders and feel-good political operatives cannot deliver.
“They can drag themselves from their home states to Abuja. Some are Abuja permanent residents. They dress the meetings and colour the rallies, but that is what it is, political colour dressing.’’