Being text of INAUGURAL PRESS BRIEFING OF THE REBUILD IMO MOVEMENT ON 2ND MAY, 2024
You will recall that on Tuesday, 23rd day of April, 2024 our great leader, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, CON (Omenkeahurunanya), former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives 2011-2015 and the elected governor of Imo State 2019, formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party – the party he was a founding member, Member of Board of Trustees (BoT) and a committed party man who remained faithful to the party from its formation in 1998.
It is no longer news that in his letter of resignation, Ihedioha cited the failure of the PDP to offer credible opposition to the ruling APC, failure to carry out internal reforms, consistent drift from the ideals upon which the party was founded and the party’s inability to enforce its own rules and constitution as the major reasons for his exit. The decision to leave the PDP was not easy for our great leader. The decision became necessary after deep reflection on the direction of the party. We are convinced that the time was right for us to join hands with other well meaning citizens and groups in the effort towards engendering democracy and good governance in our dear nation.
Following the resignation of His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, an unprecedented number of leaders and members of the party in Imo State have followed suit. The mass resignation of majority members of the PDP in Imo State, which is still unfolding, is an expression of total confidence on the leadership of Rt. Hon, Emeka Ihedioha, whose integrity and democratic credentials endeared him to Imo people across party lines. For purpose of emphasis and clarity, the list of those who have resigned from the party in Imo State as of today is as follows;
1. Former Governor- H/E Air Commodore Dr. Luke Ochulor,
2. Former Deputy Governor – H/E Engr Gerald Irona.
3. Former Ministers of the Federal Republic – Engr Charles Ugwuh, Chief Chuka Odom.
4. BOT member of the party – Chief Barr Chris Okewulonu.
5. Former NEC member of the party- Chief Henry Ekpe.
6. Former elected members of House of Representatives – Hon. ThankGod Ezeani PhD, Hon Mayor Eze, Hon Barr Uche Onyeagucha, Hon Ugonna Ozurigbo, Hon Obinna Onwubuariri , Hon. Jonas Okeke.
7. Chairman PDP elders committee – Prof Jude Njoku, Secretary PDP elders Committee – Prof. Obioma Iheduru.
8. Members of the South East Zonal Executive Committee – Chief Stanley Ekezie, Chief Augustine Elochukwu,
9. Two senatorial candidates of the party in the last election- including Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu.
10. Four House of Representatives candidates of the party in the last election including, Hon Chibuzo Agulanna.
11. Former speaker and deputy speaker of Imo House of Assembly – Rt. Hon Lawman Duruji, Rt. Hon Okey Onyekamma,
12. 27 Former LGA IMC chairmen and about 291 IMC members who served under the Ihedioha administration.
13. Many House of Assembly candidates of the party in the last election including Sunny-Unachukwu Chukwuemeka John the PDP candidate for Ikeduru State Constituency, 2023
14. Over 2277 top leaders and financiers of the party across the state.
15. 29 out of 39 members of the State Executive Committee.
16. 13 out of 27 LGA party chairmen.
17. 267 out of 432 LGA party officers
18. 243 out of 305 ward chairmen
19 Over 3888 ward executives of the party.
20. Major financiers of the party, members of prominent PDP support groups, and teaming party members across the various wards.
The above list has been collated and is available for verification and scrutiny.
It is important to state that prior to the victory of Hon. Ihedioha in the 2019 Imo governorship election, the party had not won governorship election in the state since 2003 when Chief Achike Udenwa, the former governor of the state won his reelection. After several events which led to a disconnect between Imo electorate and the party, Ihedioha rebranded the PDP and returned Imo people’s faith in the party. Under his leadership, the PDP won the governorship, one senatorial seat, four out of 10 House of Representative seats and 13 House of Assembly seats out of 27. The result was a major milestone that was going to be consolidated, before the Supreme Court removed him in the most controversial governorship election petition decision in the history of Nigeria.
In spite of the 14 January, 2020 set back, the party remained strong and conducted its ward, LGA and state congresses in February, March and August 2020 respectively. Everything was going well for the PDP in the state until some anti-democratic forces out of their selfish desire to disrupt the cohesion and strength of the party in Imo, decided to put a clog in the wheels of progress of the party.
Despite the efforts of traducers who never wanted Imo PDP to thrive and blossom, the party was on top flight to stability and success. However, like all other things in nature, the Imo PDP completed a life cycle of birth, growth and development, and ultimately death, although an avoidable one.
It is noteworthy to graphically state that, while the attacks on Imo PDP, orchestrated by agents of destabilization continued, faithful party members and leaders, beckoned on the National Working Committee (NWC) to restore harmony and order. Several appeals were made to the PDP NWC to stem the impunity dangerously taking place in the party but they all fell on deaf ears.
The grandiose failure of the PDP NWC to follow due processes even as it contravened its own constitution in handling its affairs in Imo, made it inevitable that the PDP was inexorably headed for a self destruct in the state. The disheartening drama reached the an unprecedented level when the NWC deliberately ignored and disrespected the decision of the South East zonal caucus comprising the leaders, elders, former governors, former national assembly members, BoT members and state executive, on issues concerning the zone. The NWC treated the South East zonal leadership of the party with so much disrespect, an action that has set the PDP for the worse exedus of a region that once was its fortress.
In the light of the above abhorrently prevailing circumstances, consequent upon which our principal called it quits with PDP, followed by the deluge of mass resignations in which more than 85% of the umbrella party had also left the PDP, Ihedioha and his supporters have floated The Rebuild Imo Movement as a platform to strategize and consolidate. The Rebuild Imo Movement shall partner with all well meaning citizens of Imo State and organisations to give meaning to the entrenchment and promotion of democracy in our dear enclave. Consultations have commenced and shall be further broadened to reach all shades of opinion and groups. Ours is a rainbow movement that will cover both the 27 LGAs and the three geo-political zones.
We call on Imo citizens who share the same ideals and aspirations for our beloved Imo to join hands as we embark on this engaging democratic journey. Our goal is clear, hence we shall reach out to all persons who share the goals of promotion of democracy and good governance in our state and the nation in general. To achieve this goal, the list of persons who abandoned the PDP to join this new crusade under the Rebuild Imo Movement shall be made known to you in the course of our further engagements with you.
The essence of this briefing is to let you know that we have moved on and would not be distracted in our quest for the promotion of good governance and democracy in Imo State and Nigeria. This engagement shall continue at all levels, as we remain open to building consensus with all group or persons who are committed to the promotion of good governance and democracy in Imo State and Nigeria.
We shall communicate you in the future about any change on the status quo. Thank you for coming.
God bless Imo State.
Signed:
Prof Jude Njoku Dr. Vin Udokwu
For Elders of the Party For Rebuild Imo Organisation
Rt. Hon Okey Onyekamma Chief Sir Stanley Ekezie KSC.
For Candidates of he party in 2023 election For officers of the Party
Kissinger Ikeokwu Esq
For Former LGA Chairmen
Stephen Ibeawuchi
Anyanwu(Obolobo)
For the Rebuild Imo Movement