By Martin Opara
The return of the member representing Orlu state constituency in the state legislature, Hon. Pascal Okolie to the Peoples Democratic Party, barely ten months after he defected from the party to the All Progressive Congress, has elicited mixed reactions in several quarters, in view of the legislator’s antecedents.
Okolie, in a letter dated 11th November 2020, with the caption, “Notice of my return to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP”, which he personally signed and addressed to the Honourable Speaker, said, “I Honourable Pascal Okolie representing Orlu State constituency wish to inform you through this letter that I have returned to my party the PDP”.
Recall, that Hon. Pascal Okolie was among state legislators that defected enmasse to the All Progressive Congress at soon after Governor Uzodinma assumed office, after the Supreme Court judgment.
It was said that all the PDP legislators excluding, Solomon Anukam of Owerri Municipal Council Barr. Frank Ugboma of Oguta, Philip Ejiogu of Owerri North, Okey Onyekamma of Mbaitoli, Barr. Anyadike Nwosu of Ezinihitte State constituency, were induced with hunge sum of money, opportunity to nominate members of Interim Management Councils and assurance to execute some contracts.
However, top government source who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that most of them who hurriedly defected to the APC, without properly analyzing the circumstances are presently being “suffocated”.
“They are not recognized as leaders in their various constituencies, as they are seen as interlopers who want to reap where they didn’t sow”.
“Okolie’s return to the PDP is attracting more attention because of his alleged insensitivity to the plight of his constituents who were terrorized, maimed and killed by security operatives. A case in point, was when a 24 year mechanic apprentice was shot dead by a police man, over argument about face mask and the protest it generated.
Feelers from Orlu, Hon. Okolie’s constituency, indicate that the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in Orlu, who should be the first to know of his return, are not aware of the present development.
Some political pundits who commented on the issue said, “Hon. Okolie’s return to the PDP, gives credence to speculations that most of those who hurriedly joined the shared prosperity band wagon have been pigeon holed with dashed hopes and expectations.
“Most of them, aside being caged and boxed into tight corners now have credibility problems as they are allegedly seen as people of price tags”.
