By Anya C. Anya
The duo of Hon. Obinna Oriaku and Hon. George Nnanna Kalu has officially joined the All Progressive Congress APC in Abia state .
In a ceremony held to officially receive both Ex- Members of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Abia state to the APC at the country home of Ex- Abia state Governor and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Both men were given a broom as a mark of acceptance .
While speaking at the event at Camp Neya , Sen. OUK described Hon. Obinna Oriaku who is the immediate past commissioner of finance, Abia state and Hon. George Nnanna Kalu an Ex- Commissioner for Works and Transport Abia state as a valuable addition to the APC family .
According to Sen. OUK “Up till last night, both were members of the PDP and they have chosen to follow the moving train and I want to officially receive them by presenting the broom which is the symbol of APC to them here today. We are working and this is our state and we will take over the state”
“We started the state and we will take over the state. I have the mandate of the national chairman of APC, His Excellency Governor of Yobe state , to continue cultivating new members into this party. you are welcome to our great party. We give you this broom to sweep out all the evil in the state.”
Furthermore, “I am also using this opportunity to warn and appeal to the state government; no body who has chosen to be a member of the APC should be harassed. Nobody who have on his own chosen to belong to any political party should be tormented. “
” We did not do that and we don’t expect anybody to do that. We will follow the law to pursue such cases and I dont want to hear that property owned by APC members are revoked. “
” I am sure Governor Okezie is educated and well civilized and would not do that and I call on his aides to be very careful too. Some of them worked with me and they know we play politics without bitterness and I expect them to respect the sanctity of democracy which is the freedom of association.”
After the ceremony , Hon. George Nnana Kalu and Hon. Obinna Oriaku while responding to question from press men appreciated the warm reception they received at the country home of Sen. OUK.
In thier separate words , they honoured Senator OUK as the democratic leader of Abia state ” We all worked under you and you performed and we are ready to work again. Thank you for this opportunity that is given to us to join this party and make this party great. ”
” Our joining the APC is not accidental but well thought out plan.today is another wonderful day. We are most grateful for having us under your roof and giving us the first broom which symbolises sweeping and cleansing of what has been defined as the problems of our state and we quite convinced that the only way to redeem our state is by joining APC.”
The ceremony was attended by other top National and State Steward of the All Progressive Congress APC.