Ugwuanyi is not your mate: A cautionary message to Ibrahim Abdullahi

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi recent diatribe on former governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi labeling him as one who carries bag for others is unwarranted. Abdullahi, in a television programme was said to have described Ugwuanyi as someone who was merely “carrying a bag” for others. He tried to paint Ugwuanyi as a neophyte who should not be taken seriously. A kind of a political liability without any political capital. Claims that collapse under scrutiny and closer examination.

However, Abdullahi’s vituperation is not only laughable and dismissible, but a clear case of standing logic on the hand. He should not forget that Ugwuanyi was a foundation member of PDP on whose platform Abdullahi is grandstanding as the Deputy Spokesman. He should also know that Ugwuanyi and others overtime served as locomotive engine that powered PDP’s sustenance that made it possible for later day members like Abdullahi to come and enjoy. I consider Abdullahi’s action as a case of biting the finger that once fed and nourished you. It is unfortunate that someone who is now enjoying the hard work and organizational ability of Ugwuanyi and others provided in nurturing PDP would now turn around and speak despicable against his former benefactor in this manner, making baseless and bitter comment against a colossus like Ugwuanyi.

Permit me to take you readers back memory lane, to remind Abdullahi of a few truths he seems to have conveniently forgotten due to his hatred for Ugwuanyi. Ugwuanyi was one of the key architects of the PDP’s formation in 1998. It was this same platform that gave Abdullahi the opportunity to serve as a Deputy Publicity Secretary. When Ugwuanyi and his likes were busy fighting for the party’s success, Abdullahi may as well be in school trying to achieve academic success. What tangible innovation did he bring to retool PDP image as the Deputy Image Manager of the party? The answer is clear: nothing but noise and empty rhetoric.

A two-term- Governor of Enugu State and three term Member of House of Representatives, Ugwuanyi’s political sagacity, acumen and influence are glaring. His larger-than-life image in the nation’s political recompose is visible to the blind and audible to the dumb. He is an enigma, who’s political reach is beyond boundaries.

In 2023, he was at the forefront of the battle with Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu and Ortom as the G-5 governors who worked hard to install President Bola Tinubu owing to a perceived injustice by PDP. Ugwuanyi contributed significantly to Tinubu’s historic victory in 2023 that best explains why he is in the good book of the president. He also worked assiduously in delivering Enugu Governor, Peter Mbah. His strategic intervention turned the tide in Mbah’s favour, despite the opposition’s initial lead.

I will advise Abdullahi to channel his energy in trying to work on the image of his party which has become a sinking ship in recent time with many political big wigs leaving the umbrella like Ugwuanyi has just done based on the prompting of his people and his desire to be part of success story of President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda. I know his anger against Ugwuanyi may be his decision to exit his party, but don’t forget that Ugwuanyi like any other Nigerian has his freedom of association as enshrined in 1999 Constitution as Amended which also extends to personal choice. Not even one million Abdullahi can stop him from exercising this right.

If I may ask, what has Abdullahi done for the PDP or its members? His so-called achievements as Deputy Spokesman are to disparage popular politicians who got their popularity and achieved their success through dint of hard work and steadfastness. A pitiful attempt at party image making. It is no wonder PDP is sinking by the day with its members like Abdullahi relegated to the fringes of Nigerian politics, where they now resort to making bitter and baseless statements to remain relevant.

Ironically, he has reduced himself to the voluntary spokesperson and media team member of Pull-Ugwuanyi-Down syndrome for committing the unthinkable by leaving PDP for APC. Rather than see this as expression of his Right of Freedom of Association, people like Abdullahi who are just cutting their teeth in politics would see it as a betrayal.

Abdullahi and his co-travelers, instead of wasting energy on petty attacks, should rather take a moment to reflect on PDP’s political journey and the contribution Ugwuanyi made to it. If they have any meaningful contributions to make, I advise they focus on working to promote the fortunes of their party rather than pouring their anger or frustration on Ugwuanyi who did and still all he could to better the lot of his people and political party.

Ugwuanyi’s bequeath as a pragmatic, cerebral and transformative leader speaks for itself. No amount of wicked narrative from haters and political opponents like Abdullahi can erase it. A closer examination of Abdullahi’s political history reveals a man whose loyalty shifts with the wind, whose arguments lack empirical grounding, and whose recent outbursts suggest either delusion or a hidden agenda against Ugwuanyi.

Given his erratic behavior, one must ask: Is Ibrahim Abdullahi truly a democrat, or is he just masquerading as one? His sudden verbal attack after years of his party enjoying Ugwuanyi’s patronage suggest either personal frustration, external influence or total loss of focus. His rhetoric increasingly aligns with anti-democratic narratives pushed by some disgruntled elements who are bent on pouring their frustration on the current political reality which has seen PDP losing its members to the ruling APC. Speculations are rife that Ibrahim is ogling for cheap popularity and relevance and thought that attacking a mighty Iroko like Ugwuanyi will skyrocket him to high political magnitude. He forgot that controversy cannot catapult one to political prominence but only genuine intentions and practical application of political arithmetic and strategy can.

If Abdullahi is truly a democrat and pained by Ugwuanyi’s exit from PDP which will no doubt impact on the fortunes of the party, he would focus on critiques and not personal attacks on Ugwuanyi. Instead, he sounds more like a man bitter about his own fading party’s influence which is always too hard to contain or manage.

The outburst against Ugwuanyi is not just misguided, it is dangerous and uncalled for. By going against politicians whose only sin was redirecting his political step for the good of his people and the nation, he stands the risk of making Nigerians to lose the little sympathy they have for his party and weakening their desire to regroup for future contests.

True partymen hold leaders accountable with facts and figures and not emotional outburst as Abdullahi has done recently. If Abdullahi wants PDP to be taken seriously, he should return to issue-based criticism—not desperate, hypocritical rants that only help the likes of Ugwuanyi to soar higher as many Civil Society Groups and prominent voices across the nation rose up on his defense describing him as a political heavyweight and detribalized Nigerian whose influence spreads allover. Otherwise, posterity will remember him not as a democrat, but as a propagandist and anti-democratic element who lost his way.

More importantly, he should know that Ugwuanyi is a colossus, factory of ideas and good organizer of people who has paid his dues in the political recompose of Nigerian federation. He held political offices of note and distinguished himself in all. Ugwuanyi is not his mate in any way and he should not try to bring him to ridicule to score cheap political point. Abdullahi should know this and know peace.

Ochiaka Ugwu is an Abuja based Media Practitioner.