From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government and Abia chapter of IPAC, have berated the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for setting up a Shadow Government in Abia, describing the move as self serving and self-caricature.
Abia PDP had in a press release signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Eric Ikwuagwu, disclosed that the state Chairman of the party, Abraham Amah, has approved the appointment of some Abians to serve in the Abia State Shadow Government (ABSSHG).
The release said setting up of the ABSSHG reflect the commitment of the party to hold the State government accountable to its responsibility to Abia citizens, scrutinize it’s actions, inactions and policies, as well as offer alternative opinions.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, Abia State Government said the PDP’s action has gone a long way to show they were yet to come to terms they were defeated in the last election in the state.
“The desperation of agents of the decimated Abia PDP was made manifest few days ago when the visible Abia PDP Chairman who was ‘elected’ to serve the party with other ‘elected’ State party Exco, appointed illusionary shadow Commissioners, Special Adviser, Senior Special Assistants, Director Generals, CSO, CPS, Chief Judge, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, SSG, Chief of Staff and Accountant-General under the yet to be created PDP State.
“What is strange is that few days later, the Abia PDP State Chairman is yet to appoint shadow Governor and Deputy Governor who will be receiving shadow allocation and generating shadow IGR.
“It is unbelievable that these people are yet to wake-up from the dream of losing election. After the Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Dr. Alex Otti as the duly elected Governor of Abia State”, they are still chasing shadows.
“Abians can now see their impunity and desperation to remain in power even after rejecting and retiring them at the polls. When are they appointing shadow Local Government Mayors and their Deputies? Ukoha queried.
Mockingly, the statement added, “All the new appointees will be inaugurated with shadow feeding bottles. They can remain in the shadow Abia. The real and visible Abia has left them behind and moved on.
They have become shadows of their old self without access to public treasury. The shadow appointees are free to loot and plunder the shadow treasury. No one is dragging it with them.”
Similarly, Abia chapter of IPAC has berated PDP for setting up a Shadow Government in the state.
The IPAC Chairman, Hon Uluocha Chimex in a statement described the
recent Shadow Cabinet constituted by the PDP in Abia State as futile attempt by a failed political party.
Chimex who is also the state chairman of Young progressive Party (YPP), expressed his disappointment and disillusionment with the recent constitution of a shadow cabinet in the state.
“This move is not only a waste of time but also a blatant attempt to deceive the good people of Abia.
“The PDP’s over 20-year reign in our state was marked by a glaring lack of meaningful infrastructure development, despite the vast resources at their disposal”, and questioned the integrity of those appointed into the Shadow Government.
Investigations revealed that majority of names on the Shadow Government list are those that have been very critical in criticizing Otti’s administration especially in the social media.
