By Charles Igbo
The news did not quite come as a surprise to many people. The news, that Willie Amadi, a Lawyer, and the immediate past Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amadi was an Ombudsman, and represented Imo State on the Commission.
He was appointed to the Commission on the recommendation, and backing of Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu, PDP, who was the Chairman, Senate Public Complaints Committee, the immediate past Senator who represented Owerri East.
He lost the position when he contested, unsuccessfully, in 2019, for the Governorship of the State. He did not make it in the Primary as he was defeated by the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who went on to be declared the Governor of the State.
Ihedioha lost the seat after seven months in office when the Supreme Court declared Senator Hope Uzodimma as the duly elected Governor of Imo State.
Even though not many were surprised at Amadi’s defection to the APC, it still stung his former party, the PDP.
For months, Amadi, unarguably, one of the most active Commissioners on the Federal Complaints Commission while in office, played straight. Because of the position he held, he shunned partisan politics. In Imo State, for example, to the consternation of some PDP members, he commended the Government of the State, on a number of times for jobs he considered well done, especially, roads. That did not stop him from criticising the Government where he felt it had not done well. On the average, however, Amadi scored the performance of the Governor high, and did not hide it.
This other day when the Governor received in audience, the Owerri Municipal Stakeholders for a dialogue on the state of Imo State, especially, insecurity, Amadi played a prominent role.
That was a risk in Imo State where the bitterness and hatred is very deep rooted among political actors of the opposite sides. One becomes an enemy when one does not belong to same party, or disagrees with a particular point of view, or sees white and call it white instead of black.
On Monday, June 21, Amadi courageously took a stand. His stand was to ditch the PDP in order to give Governor Uzodimma maximum support in his bid to move the State forward.
He went to his ward in the Owerri Municipal, and registered as an APC member.
Making public Amadi’s membership of the APC, the Party Chairman in Owerri Municipal enthused:
“It is my singular intention, and, also, on behalf of the apex leadership of the Owerri Municipal APC, to welcome my elder brother, one of our respected leaders, Chief Barr.Willie Amadi into our great party, the All Progresssives Congress as he just got registered in Aladinma Ward 2.
“We have no doubt that your wealth of experience and political sagacity will add immense value to our body politic in Owerri Municipal and Imo State as a whole.
“With your entrant, the shared prosperity Government will continue to soar higher and higher.”
On his part, Amadi, a jolly good fellow and a good mixer, in an open letter announced his new political preference.
In announcing his exit, he said it does not affect his relationship with anybody, especially, his friends in different political parties who he emphasised, remain his friends 100 per cent.
Following is his letter announcing his new political preference.
My Dear Associates,
CHANGE OF POLITICAL ORIENTATION
“On Monday 21st June 2021, I finally decided to join the All Progressives Congress for personal reasons. I humbly seek your indulgence and understanding. I will always cherish our outstanding comradeship and service to the people while it lasted for 21 years.
“I sincerely thank the leadership of the party at all levels for giving me the opportunities and support to serve and grow in the body polity.
“I assure that my personal relationship with all of you remain cordial, despite my new orientation.
“I wish US well and please, accept the assurances of my best regards at all times.
“Affectionately Yours,
“High Chief, Barr. Willie Amadi
UKWA ACHIAKA, Owerri.
OMEUDO, Owerri Autonomous Communities.
AJUZIEOGU LODGE, Owerri
22nd, Tuesday June 2021.”
The PDP in Imo State has not yet reacted, officially, to this development.
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