Mr. Hope Uzodimma representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has said that the merger of opposition parties into a mega party to challenge the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 2015 is not a threat to the PDP but a tool that would spur the PDP to greater victories.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the senator said “if you aggregate their electoral values as could be seen in the last general elections, they cannot match the PDP in any contest. What therefore is the basis of the merger? Is it intended to advance the interest of Nigerians or to break a sitting government? That is very vital to the whole merger plan and once it is not done for the interest of Nigeria, I am not sure it will stand the test of time”.

He also asked Nigerians to consider the antecedents of those behind the merger. “Can they reasonably work together? As the 2015 date draws near, you will see their fangs. What are their innermost desire and interest in the pursuit of this merger? It will surface and when it surfaces you will see whether it will stand the test of time”.

On the argument that the proposed mega party is for the interest of Nigeria, the senator noted that all parties in the country, PDP inclusive, were working to serve and leave Nigeria a better country.

However, he said, if looked at dispassionately, such moves to form mega parties, if they are genuine, would help energise the political environment which only the PDP  was doing at the moment.

“It is indeed regrettable that Governor Okorocha whose one year in office  has  been accused by majority of Imolites  to have retarded  the state by  about 50 years through acts of unquantifiable fraud, insecurity, whimsical indiscretion, visionlessness, crass disregard for due process, unequalled disdain for the rule of law, deceit, lies and all forms of vices akin to what could have only obtained in the 1st century, could come out to chastise the PDP"

“The mere fact that opposition parties have decided to gang up will naturally make the PDP to realise its goals and objectives in a greater way. So to us in PDP, it is a welcome development and PDP is not shaken" he said.

When asked to comment on the recent  outburst of Imo State governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha that the PDP "is a   failed political party", which had not only deepened poverty in the country but had continued to marginalize particularly the  South-East in the affairs of the nation, Mr. Uzodimma regretted that rather than settle down to the business of governance to better the lots of the Imo people, the governor was involved in frivolities and unguarded utterances capable of causing disaffection in the country.

He said “It is indeed regrettable that Governor Okorocha whose one year in office  has  been accused by majority of Imolites  to have retarded  the state by  about 50 years through acts of unquantifiable fraud, insecurity, whimsical indiscretion, visionlessness, crass disregard for due process, unequalled disdain for the rule of law, deceit, lies and all forms of vices akin to what could have only obtained in the 1st century, could come out to chastise the PDP".

The senator said that only last week, the PDP led government of President Goodluck Jonathan, awarded to a French company, a multi billion naira contract for the repair and rehabilitation of the River Niger Bridge and also awarded a contract for the construction of the second Niger Bridge to construction giants-Julius Berger Plc.

He  added  that the PDP  led government through the Office of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and   the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided roads, electricity and water  in parts of the South-East, Imo State inclusive and that it would be uncharitable for anyone  to say that PDP has failed Nigerians and marginalized the South-East.

He therefore advised those who are seeking to rule Nigeria to wait and support President Goodluck Jonathan whose tenure is still subsisting.