When Umeh’s Senatorial Ambition Received a Boost (THISDAY) Prominent politicians from Anambra State and beyond joined Chief Victor Umeh in celebrating his Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic award in Abuja recently. Anayo Okolie, who was at the event, reports It was planned to be a dinner party. But the get-together organised by the national chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, to celebrate the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic turned out to be a sort of endorsement meeting for his Anambra Central senatorial bid. The award was conferred on Umeh by President Goodluck Jonathan during the last national honours awards ceremony in Abuja. It was in recognition of Umeh’s contributions to the development of the country. The national hounours awards were instituted by the National Act No. 5 of 1964 during the First Republic to honour Nigerians who have rendered outstanding services to the benefit and progress of the country. Every country has its own way of rewarding and recognising the outstanding achievements of its citizens. This stands as an instrument for motivating the citizens to strive for greater heights, contribute and participate in the affairs of the country. The attendance list was like a who’s who of government and politics. Among those present at the event were Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano; former Minister of Interior and APGA governorship aspirant in Imo State, Emmanuel Iheanacho; Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi; former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and APGA’s senatorial aspirant in Anambra North, Chief Dubem Obaze; and Hon. Afam Ogene of the House of Representatives. Others were APGA’s National Secretary and governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi; Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili; former deputy governor of Anambra State Oke Udeh; Hon. Emeka Nwogbo; Hon. Nwawulu of Anambra State House of Assembly; and several other federal and state lawmakers, particularly, from Anambra and Imo states. Umeh was conferred with the national honour of OFR exactly 11 years after his father, Sir Innocent Ofojekwu Umeh (KSM), died. Umeh’s father died on September 29, 2003 and he was honoured with OFR national honour on September 29, 2014. Speaking at the event, Obiano, said, “Ogbunigwe Victor Umeh is a very forthright fellow, that is my assessment of him in a very short time. I have found in him a very sincere fellow who truly loves APGA as a party. So, these are some of the characters or qualities I believe that the president saw to confer him with honour of OFR.” The governor promised to support members of the party that will emerge candidates for next year’s general election and assured that APGA would win the whole of the South-east states, apart from the presidential election where the party has adopted Jonathan. Umeh thanked Obiano for honouring his invitation. The APGA national chairman used the opportunity to officially hand over the party to the governor, saying he does not know if there would another opportunity to do so. Umeh narrated the hurdles the party had crossed to survive and said the day was a great day for APGA. “When I was called out to be decorated with medal as an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), I said in my mind, thank God for APGA because it was because of the party that I got recognised by the federal government of Nigeria,” Umeh said. He added, “Really, also my effort in struggling to deepen democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria has earned me this recognition. We produced a governor that served Anambra State for eight years and his eight years was a turbulent period for the party in Anambra State because external opponents of the party were after us, which lead to long judicial battle.” Umeh said no political party that has gone through the kind of turbulence that APGA has seen and survived it. “In 2003, the secretary of the party, Shinkafi, was almost killed in defence of this party. When we won at the Court of Appeal that made way for Peter Obi to be sworn in as the governor of Anambra State, Shinkafi was attacked at his Gusau residence by enemies of APGA.” The APGA chairman at some point lost control of his emotion, uttering in between sobs, “This party has a great mission for Nigerians and Nigeria as a country. “Our leadership was the most attacked because of selfish interest but I was able to withstand the challenges and through the mercy of God, we survived. Looking at the stakeholders that came here today, both the people APGA and beyond, I feel safe to say that if I die today, there are people that can remember me.” Obaze, who also spoke to THISDAY, thank God for the honour bestowed on Umeh, adding it is not an honour done to Umeh alone but an honour done to APGA. According him, “Umeh has been our chairman for the past eight years. So whatever he has achieved is achievement for APGA. I believe he earned that not as a result of court case but due to his outstanding contribution in all these years.” Obaze said APGA “is the third largest political party in the country and we have been consistent. The state we are running, looking at our resources, is probably the best state in Nigeria when you do a ratio. People like Akpabio in Akwa Ibom have done magic. It is an uncommon transformation. Fashola has done very well and also Shema has done very well. “So our party has done very well, looking at the resources that are available because we don’t have the Lagos resources or the Uyo resources. For us, it is an honour, I think Chief Umeh has earned what the Americans call ‘the old fashion way’. He has worked for it.” A member of the House of Representatives representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Hon. Victor Ogene, said, “For me, I think it is recognition of his sterling politics not just in leading APGA as a political party but in deepening democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria. “If you would remember at a certain time in Nigeria, the political space was so choked that if you don’t get nomination in one of the big political parties, it was like a battle. So, when a party like APGA came on the scene, it helped to ventilate the people’s grievances and aspirations. So, people from especially the South-east, found in APGA a veritable platform. “There have been several such platforms, but due to the tenacity of Chief Victor Umeh, APGA was able to grow from strength to strength, but, of course, with the guardian of our then national leader, late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.” The occasion, however, did not lose its colour as a celebratory dinner, though, commendation for Umeh’s political qualities was the main theme of the speeches at the event. Time will tell how far the APGA chairman can go in his senatorial desire. (THISDAY)
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 11:31:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015