Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim yesterday formally returned to his old party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as former President Olusegun Obasanjo disclosed that he extracted a promise from the former Progressive Peoples Alliance member that he would return to the PDP before he was adopted by the ruling party at the expense of its own candidate in the build-up to the 2007 governorship polls.
Ohakim’s defection which was heralded by a large crowd ended months of speculations about his political future. The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the PDP flag to him by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua supported by Vice President Goodluck Jona-than, the National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and Obasanjo.
Addressing the rally, Obasanjo, who is also the Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, said the re-entry of Ohakim was not the issue, but the honour he had done to the party by fulfilling his promise.
The former president recalled the incident that led the PDP to lose the governorship in the state in 2007 and reminded that Ohakim had fulfilled the promise he reached with the party before he was supported to win the election 2007.
He, however, warned that the party is a family of large members with advantages and disadvantages, stating that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Presenting Ohakim to the crowd at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Yar’Adua expressed happiness that the party was moving from strength to strength, considering its expanding membership and the “good works”  the governors of the party were doing to the satisfaction of the people.
He described the day as “very great for PDP”, because it afforded the opportunity for the entire leadership of the party to empty into Owerri to receive someone who used to be one of them. “Today is a great day for us in PDP. All the leadership of the party is here today to receive Governor Ohakim in our fold”.
“You are welcome back to PDP. Today is a day for prayers; today is a day to celebrate, and today is a day for songs,” Yar’Adua said, adding that it has been historic that Imo State has returned to PDP.
He expressed optimism that with the return of Ohakim to PDP, the Southeast has been consolidated for the battle ahead, insisting that the party would continue to grow in the zone. Nigeria, he stated, is a great nation with great people, while promising that service delivery would continue to be the fulcrum of the present PDP government both at the national and state levels.
The President congratulated members of State House of Assembly led by its Speaker, Chief Goodluck Nanah Opiah, for working harmoniously with the governor while he was in opposition, and enjoined them to continue in that direction in order to give the Imo people quality service.
National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor commended the decision of Ohakim to come back to where he belonged.
Ogbulafor said the governor’s return would afford him the opportunity to attend meetings of the PDP governors as well as compare notes in line with the seven-point agenda of the President.
He said the party would accord him all rights and privileges, assuring him that his decision would not be regretted because of the inherent advantages he would derive from his action.
Unlike in Bauchi State where Governor Isa Yuguda and his deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Garuba Gadi parted ways over change of party platform, in this case, Ohakim joined PDP along with his deputy, Lady (Dr.) Ada Okwuonu
Ogbulafor announced the dissolution of the Imo State Executive of the PDP and constituted a seven-member caretaker committee with former State Chairman, Prince Marcellius Nlemigbo as the Chairman. Other members include Daniel Ezeagu, Engr. Emma Ojinere, Mrs. Nnanna Okoro, Chief Clement Anozie and Chief Patrick Uzowuru.
The event was well graced by governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and Theodore Orji of Abia State. Other prominent personalities, included senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former governors of old Pleateau State, Chief Solomon Lar and his counterpart former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo.
Also former national chairman of the party Chief Banabas Gemade, member of the BoT, Chief Emmannuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Bode George, Dr. Eziekel Izuogu, former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chief Rochas Okorocha, senators, ministers and members of the House of Representatives were in attendance.
In a state-wide broadcast, earlier in the morning, described his move as a strategic political realignment and expressed his sense of esteem that the “president was physically on hand to receive aggrieved members of the PDP in the state, who returned to the party today (yesterday) in the true spirit of reconciliation.”
Against the background of the interest, debate and speculation which his return to the PDP has generated, he decided to put things in their proper perspectives by saying:
“It is important for me to remind those who do not know, that I am not a new comer to the PDP. I was a foundation member of the PDP in 1998. As a devoted and faithful member, I made immense contributions to the growth, strength and survival of the party.”  He stressed that during that period, his commitment and loyalty to the party was never questioned at any point, adding that “even when strange bedfellows infiltrated the party in the state and sought to dismember it”, he remained committed to the ideals of the party.
Ohakim said that when the struggle for the soul of the party started, as a sane mind, he “had to stay away from the burning furnace”, explained that the “the strategic retreat” was necessary and inevitable. “Having done that we watched from the sidelines and saw how the party was torn into shreds by those who ought to work for its survival, but were blinded by their selfish interests.
Commenting on his former party, the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), he hailed it for providing him and his supporters with cover when they needed to forge ahead. “The party played a stabilising role in the politics of Imo State. In fact, the PPA played an invaluable role at that time. It was a viable alternative which nobody could ignore. It must be noted that the PPA was, at that point in time peopled largely by a large number of other PDP faithful who had good reason to leave the party”, he added.
Ohakim explained that he consulted the wider spectrum of Imo stakeholders and people before arriving at the decision to move back to the PDP.  He declared: “It is the Imo people who have decided that this political realignment must take place. With the event of today, we have redefined politics in Imo State the way our people desire.”
He threw more light on why he returned to PDP saying, “It is the Ecclesiastes that said there is time for everything under the sun. I agree and I believe that now is the time to take hard and courageous decisions to secure as well as ensure the political stability, economic progress, peace and unity in Imo State. Therefore the action I have taken in re-joining PDP is clearly beyond politics. Again, our service to the good people of Imo should not be unduly subjected to the whims and caprices of politics and politicians. The struggle for political power should in no way impede our march towards giving Imo an economy and creating the much needed jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.