Take your time, read and re-read, succinctly. -------------------------------------------------------- Being text of Press Conference by Anambra State Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) in the 2013 Governorship Election, Dr. Chike Obidigbo JP (Osisioma), during a Strategy Meeting at the Country Home of the National Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu, Ikenecheoha II of Achi; on August 31, 2014. Protocols: APGA’s Status Raises Serious Concerns about the Leadership Question In Igbo Land. My dear compatriots and gentlemen of the press, I am constrained by the current status of our dear Party All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) to address you this afternoon. I have been agonizing over the recent developments in our beloved party and feel challenged more than ever before to spare no cost and effort to try to keep it united, rebranded and truly progressive especially in Anambra State. Eleven months ago we complained about the impunity and disregard for the party’s constitution regarding the processes of nomination of candidates for the November 2013 governorship election in Anambra State. Most importantly it had earlier been agreed during various meetings held between the then Governor Obi, that there should be no imposition of candidates, no godfatherism and that the governorship candidate should emerge through a free and fair primary election. The breach of this simple agreement founded on honour, is today the root of the crisis in APGA, in Anambra State and beyond. It is also this politics of exclusion that scares honourable men and women from politics, thereby leading to this present situation where one man holds the party in strangle-hold, even after the clear expiration of his constitutional tenure in office. Regrettably, many people dismissed our critical observations then as a part of the gimmicks associated with competition for power. But two weeks ago, the actions of some eminent stakeholders of APGA shows that we were right in our insistence that correct things be done to ensure institutional harmony, justice, equity, and fair play. Now everyone is agreeing with me that those who sidelined observance of gentlemen’s agreement, laid down procedures, and rule of law are those who set the stage for the series of crisis and instability in APGA throughout the Nation. Four mascots of APGA who are members of the National Assembly had to quit their membership of the party in protest against the shoddy way the party is being run especially with so much impunity and high handedness of only one or two individuals. The mascots chose the clear line of least resistance. So instead of remaining in the party to fight for their rights, privileges and beliefs, they ran over to another platform they consider already made, safe and comfortable. But in as much as individuals have the right to pursue their legitimate ambitions and political progression, it should have been expected that the interest of the people whom they represent and the party on which they emerged, should have been reflected in their decisions. But this never happened. And just when people were trying to understand what was playing out, the very first governor produced by the party resigned his position as the factional chairman of the Board of Trustees and National Leader of the party. It does not matter that this series of protests took place in a faction of the party which shut its ears to our observations of abnormality in the way the party’s business was being conducted. This is so especially regarding the impunity and clear exclusion of responsible persons from participation. It is mind boggling that the so-called party leaders should welcome the exit of bonafide members of a political party, more so eminent stakeholders, calling them names as well describing their decampment as “good radiance of bad rubbish”. Party leadership all over the nation including the almighty PDP seeks out her aggrieved members to mend fence, but little APGA, currently faced with possible extinction, calls her wounded decampees ugly names and are even advising others on the fringe to quit, if they so wished. What a leadership style. The decision of former Governor Peter Obi to quit his appointment as BoT Chairman and leader of that faction of APGA seems to buttress the claim by certain stakeholders that he must have been at the centre of the confusion in APGA. Providence placed Mr. Peter Obi at a commanding height in the history of APGA. But prevailing circumstances seem to suggest that he failed to rise to the challenges of that high calling. After storming out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of frustration that he was not given the party’s governorship ticket, Mr. Peter Obi got the APGA ticket on a platter of gold, contested and won the 2003 governorship election in Anambra State. Again he weathered political adversities and institutional road blocks to reclaim his mandate and was sworn into office as the first state governor on the platform of APGA. This feat made Peter Obi to stand out as one of the three great pillars of the party after the supreme leader, Dim Ikemba Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, (Bless his soul) , and the founder and vision-bearer, Chief Chekwas Okorie. But while Ikemba and Ojeozi Chekwas Okorie, operated at different spheres, Obi occupied the central position because being the only governor, he remained the source of strength and sustenance for the Party. However, it is regrettable that through, or some combination of selfish designs, sheer greed, fear, ineptitude, arrogance, and clear lack of will and drive, Obi failed to call a spade, a spade on several occasions thereby leaving APGA at the mercy of political opportunists and merchants of fortune and seekers of absolute power, which we know corrupts absolutely. The worse instance of Mr. Peter Obi’s vacillation in the face of truth was demonstrated in 2013 shortly before the governorship election. It is on record that the former Governor gave his moral and financial support to the National Convention of APGA held at the Women’s Development Centre, (WDC) Awka on April 8, 2013. But men of sound intellect and political morality were chagrined when the same Peter Obi, abandoned the National Working Committee, (NWC) led by Chief Maxi Okwu, produced at the convention, fully supervised and endorsed by him, covered by Top officials of INEC, supported by all the party and government officials. Some of these notable high net worth individuals include the then BoT Chairman, Dr. Tim Menakaya, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Anambra State SSG, Chief Oseloka Obaze, the then Chief of Staff, Prof. Stella Okunna; Dr. (Mrs.) Uju Okeke, Engr. Calistus Ilozumba, Col. Geoff Onyejegbu, Chief Chris Ejike Uche, all the members of the National working committee and almost all the movers and shakers of the party including all the members of the State Executive Council and other high political high stake holders within and outside Anambra State. Mr. Peter Obi, in a sudden twist and turn and to the chagrin of all men of honour went away and unilaterally sought reconciliation with Chief Victor Umeh just for the sake of taking the easy road to producing a political godson and governor of Anambra State in the person of Chief Willie Obiano ( in total disregard of all sound advice and all earlier agreements he had with stake holders). The sudden tumble became most worrisome when you recall that during the April 8, 2013 convention Obi noted that “this is the first time APGA was getting a genuine leadership elected by the people and in line with the provisions of the APGA constitution”. But alas, and almost immediately after, his mercantilist instincts took over from realism and the former governor deemed it more profitable to trade away the genuine NWC led by Bar. Maxi Okwu for the easy dalliance with his brother, Chief Victor Umeh. Unfortunately, both men Peter and Victor, have returned to the trenches, fighting each other with sledge hammers and slanderous languages. What a pity! What a shame! All their closely guarded secrets and schemes, including the divide and rule program they selfishly introduced into the politics of Anambra State, will eventually and disgracefully be brought to an abrupt end. In God’s own time, He will graciously unite the good people of Anambra State again. The world is surely watching and waiting to see how and when the show of shame will come to an end. But by quitting the BoT, which we warned him against as a Greek gift; Peter has once again brought the name of APGA into another round of reputation confusion. Some people say his resignation was just the first step to rejoining the PDP so as to make himself available for more advantageous political position. Nobody should grudge the former governor his ambition to serve his country in any grandiose political position. But our worry is that he has taken the Igbo race for a ride for a long , long time. One may be compelled by Obi’s display of uneven decisions to ask, is he cursed or he the cause of the serial confusion? Indeed the way he dealt with APGA raises serious concerns about the leadership question especially in Igbo land. It is on the basis of the foregoing that I want to call on all men of goodwill in Igbo land to speak out against the ongoing circus by some privileged individuals using APGA as a cover. Though the Supreme Court is yet to deliver its ruling on the APGA matter, it would do the Igbo nation a world of good if men and women of goodwill, uprightness and courage should rise up and condemn these instances of greed, selfishness and leadership impunity. These vices are alien to our Igbo culture. The perception these leaders are giving out to the greater Nigerian countrymen is counterproductive to our collective interest. In a word, this few individuals give the impression to the world that Igbo are ungovernable when in actual fact majority of Ndigbo are law abiding, honest and hardworking. Ndigbo are always ready and willing to operate within the ambit of the law. We are not rowdy. We are our brother’s keeper. President Goodluck Jonathan and South East Support Gentlemen, Let me comment briefly on the series of endorsements for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition by groups and individuals in the South East. There is a general disposition of the people of South East that indeed there is no better candidate that will command the trust and confidence of Ndigbo than Dr. Jonathan for the presidential seat in 2015. Even our Late leader Ikemba Nnewi gave him full endorsement. Attempts therefore by some individuals to claim this wide support and acceptability of the president as evidence of their leadership or campaign capability, should not be taken seriously. Rather, the effort should be seen as part of the culture of arrogance and misappropriation of public good will in the zone. While the people show readiness to support President Jonathan again in 2015 if he accepts to contest, most people in the zone want the federal government to step up the provision of socio-economic amenities in the area. Therefore, most of these leaders who want to create the impression that they are facilitating the people’s support for the President have not made any effort to supply the flip side of the people’s preparedness to keep supporting him. Those who want to convey Igbo support for President Jonathan with the claim that there would be fire and brimstone should be seen as the real enemies of democracy and the people. Our support for the President should not be used to cover our desire to supplant the ideals of democracy including dialogue and free choice. Allowing dubious political leaders to lead the Jonathan campaign in South East could tarnish the masses’ goodwill towards the President. A few additional infrastructural developments and tackling of security challenges is all that is needed to galvanize over whelming and concrete support for President Jonathan in the entire South East. Adieu Prof. Dora Akunyili, our fallen compatriot/ heroine Gentle men, I wish to state that the memory of Prof. Dora Akunyili, our fallen compatriot and heroine, does not merit the new cycle of confusion in APGA. It is therefore my wish to begin the search for unity and rebranding of APGA as fitting tribute to our departed heroes and heroines. The sad story of leadership in Igbo land is that most of our leaders do not like to be good followers. Elections have been won in the name of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, yet some of us will not want to honour his name by sacrificing personal ambitions and pleasures for the greater good of the party and Igbo nation. Even his beloved widow , his confidant, and unto whom he bestowed so much wisdom ,candor and confidence has been left there in the cold under the pretence that she has little or no electoral value and strength to cause upset or have control over their looting spree. Prof. Akunyili was renowned for her courage, honesty and patriotism but at a time her body was being committed to mother-earth, the APGA platform on which she stood for election continues to be desecrated. When the APGA motto proclaims “Be thy brothers’ keeper” the current status of the party makes one to wonder whether money and position have actually become our next of kin. As Nd’Igbo, we need a complete value re-reorientation and attitudinal overhaul to fit into the acceptable pattern in the comity of civilized citizens. We need to eschew greed like a plague; have self respect; learn to respect one another and the rights of others; observe the sanctity of human life; stop acting God and learn to engender community consciousness in our aspirations. This is because in the exercise of absolute power and the attendant corruption within our narrow conclave, this kind of leaders forgets that there is a world to be conquered out there. For instance, the yearnings and aspirations of the common masses need to be ventilated at the national level just as attracting what is due to the grassroots are also ensured. Change is direly needed. The journey should start in APGA now! And we appeal to all men of good conscience where ever they are found, to rise up and help the people in distress..
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:01:24 +0000
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