Former member of the House of Representatives for Awka North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Onwuaso, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing his recent comments on the internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “self-serving” and “driven by personal ambition.”
In an interview with Daily Sun, Onwuaso dismissed Atiku’s assertion that the PDP would have avoided its current crisis if the party had heeded his advice, stating that the former Vice President’s political moves have consistently prioritized his presidential ambition over the party’s unity and national interest.
“What advice will you take from Atiku who is over seventy-something years?” Onwuaso asked rhetorically. “The same party told him not to contest [in 2023], but he refused. That’s not advice, that’s ambition.”
He questioned Atiku’s political consistency, referencing the former Vice President’s multiple defections over the years, and argued that his insistence on contesting the 2023 presidential election — despite calls for zoning the presidency to the South — exacerbated the party’s internal divisions.
“Everybody must not be President. It has to be for the wellbeing of Nigeria, not personal interest. PDP zoned the presidency to the South — why didn’t they follow through in 2023? Atiku contested even after the North had held power for two terms through Buhari. What is he advising now?” Onwuaso queried.
He also took a swipe at Atiku’s recent association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that the motive behind the move is to create a platform to lure Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the Obidient movement.
“What is making them jittery in ADC is because Obi has not ported fully into the party,” he said. “They think once he joins, the Obidients will follow. But politics doesn’t work that way.”
Onwuaso insisted that the PDP remains a strong political force and should not be written off ahead of its upcoming national convention scheduled for November.
“Let’s see what the convention will bring. Until it’s concluded, nobody can write the PDP off,” he said.
On Nigeria’s post-independence journey, Onwuaso argued that the country cannot be said to be truly independent when it continues to rely heavily on foreign nations for basic needs, infrastructure, and economic survival.
“We are not independent. We still depend on foreigners to build our roads, to feed us, and even to make policies. What is independence when you go to Chatham House or Rome for validation or support?” he asked.
He stressed that real independence means self-reliance, innovation, accountability, and the political will to use local talent and enforce laws made for Nigerians.
“We have thousands of agencies in this country, yet none of them can sustain themselves without the national budget. Even when they generate revenue, it’s not properly accounted for,” he said.
On the performance of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is seeking re-election in the November 8 governorship poll, Onwuaso expressed deep dissatisfaction.
He acknowledged that while governance is difficult, Soludo had not demonstrated a clear developmental blueprint or strategic vision for the state.
“When he came in, people expected a professor of economics to bring targeted, sustainable development. But what we have seen are haphazard road projects without a clear long-term plan,” Onwuaso said.
He accused Soludo of focusing on cosmetic infrastructure — particularly road construction — without integrating them into broader economic goals such as industrialization, agriculture, or transportation development.
“Everybody builds roads — Ngige did, Obi did. What makes Soludo’s own different? What are these roads targeted to achieve? Are they tied to economic sectors? Is there a follow-up plan?” he asked.
He further argued that the governor had failed to articulate achievements or a future agenda, even as the election approaches.
“Have you heard Soludo say, ‘this is what I’ve done, and this is where I’m headed next’? No. That tells you he has run out of ideas. What’s driving him now is ambition, not a development plan,” he said.
Onwuaso also criticized the lack of investor confidence and dwindling housing development in the state, contrasting it with neighboring Enugu State, which he claims is seeing a boom due to strategic planning and visible industrial growth.
“In Soludo’s first year, estate developers came in. Now they’re leaving. Go to Enugu, look at what’s happening from 9th Mile to Oji River — new factories, new housing. That’s what happens when there’s a clear plan,” he stated.
