Ohanaeze youths slam PDP Spokesman over Ugwuanyi remarks

By Editor

The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has lambasted the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Abdullahi, for what it described as an unwarranted verbal attack on former Enugu State governor, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Abdullahi, while speaking on Arise Television earlier in the week, had claimed that Ugwuanyi’s political relevance in Enugu had waned, alleging that the ex-governor had reduced himself to a personal aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

His comments, however, did not sit well with the Ohanaeze youths, who swiftly fired back, accusing the PDP spokesman of peddling falsehoods and disrespecting a respected leader.

In a statement issued by the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group described Abdullahi’s remarks as “baseless and borne out of ignorance or selective amnesia.”

Okwu reminded the PDP image-maker that Ugwuanyi, during his tenure as governor, secured the highest percentage of votes ever recorded in Enugu State’s history during the 2019 governorship election — a feat he said “may not be easy for anyone to break.”

He insisted that Ugwuanyi’s calm and gentlemanly disposition should not be mistaken for weakness or loss of political strength, noting that the former governor remains widely admired and influential two years after leaving office.

“The claim that Ugwuanyi’s political influence has diminished is both illogical and baseless,” Okwu said. “Gburugburu remains a revered figure among our people.”

The Ohanaeze youth leader further alleged that Abdullahi’s outburst was motivated by anger over Ugwuanyi’s recent defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, alongside Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah.

“We know where his anger is coming from — the PDP is still weeping over the defection of such political heavyweights to the APC,” Okwu stated. “But the party brought this upon itself by neglecting the South-East despite depending on the region for years.”

He reaffirmed the group’s confidence in Ugwuanyi’s leadership, declaring unwavering support for both him and Governor Mbah.

“We stand firmly behind Ugwuanyi and Mbah,” Okwu said. “They made the right decision, and the PDP should cry a river — it won’t change anything.”