The present leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), is after the soul of the party and might mar its chances as the party to beat in the forthcoming November 18, Anambra state governorship election. OKEY CHRIS in a conversation with Chief Ben Obi, an APGA stakeholder, reports that the challenges before APGA call for leaders’ intervention to save the party
As Anambra voters prepares for November 18 governorship election, Chief Ben Obi, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obano on Inter-Party and Political Matters, popularly known as Igwe of APGA, has urged voters in the state to rally round the APGA.
Chief Obi, who posited that death of APGA was tantamount to death of Igbos, warned his people not allow the present leadership crises rocking the party to stalk its chances of remaining at the Agu-Awka Government House beyond March, 2018.
“There is no political organization that is without crises; even in the last political dispensation in Anambra, there was a problem between Sir Victor Umeh and the then Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, which was later resolved and APGA retained the governorship seat.
“This present crisis will not be an exception. I am urging Anambra people and APGA faithful in particular to remain resolute and calm. The crisis will not see the end of APGA”, he said in a chat with Blueprint.
Commenting on the Take Over Anambra Team constituted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to capture the Agu-Awka Government House for the APC in the November governorship election, Chief Obi described the team as dead on arrival, and insisted that APC is not a better alternative for Anambra State; and therefore, cannot take over the state.
He said, “What we ask for is a free and fair election in Anambra State on November 18, 2017. We do not want military invasion of the state during the exercise, because, if they think that they can use federal might to manipulate Anambra election, they will meet their waterloo.
We in APGA are not asking anybody to come and help us. What we are requesting is free and fair election. But for anybody or group to come with the sole aim of installing a governor in Anambra against the wish of the people is a mere dream.
“Anambra State is the soul of the Igbo nation. People like Odumegwu Ojukwu, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nwafor Orizu, among others come from this state. So, anybody thinking that he will come here to impose a governor is day-dreaming”.
He tasked other South East states to also embrace APGA, stating that the party is synonymous with Ndigbo.
“Right from inception, APGA is Igbo and Igbo is APGA. That is why we have been preaching to other South East states to rally round APGA. The party must not be allowed to die.
“Ndigbo are talking about marginalization. Nobody is marginalizing them as far as I am concerned. They are marginalizing themselves. Let us queue to APGA-Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi. Once we get these five states, we can have the bargaining power to go to Abuja”.
The Igwe of APGA also tasked other Anambrarians aspiring for the number one seat from other zones beside Anambra North to shelve their ambitions and support Anambra North to complete their second term, then, it will go to the South Senatorial zone, and then, to the central.
He opined that only zoning arrangement could help each zone to get their fair share in the distribution of political slots in the state.
“Let those wasting their money when it is not yet their turns use their money to build factories and employ our teaming unemployed youths because for the November election in this state, governor must come from Anambra North. The Central and Southern zones had taken their fair shares. We believe in zoning pattern, and that is the only thing that can save us money and time”, he said.
He maintained that APGA and, of course, Obiano, would be the favourite for the electorate in the November election because the APGA government in the state, since inception, has done well.
“APGA government in Anambra has done well in agriculture. Anambra is the only state that exports scent and punkin leaves, and now, the federal government has given us the authority to export yams. Anambra is the highest producer of rice in Nigeria, courtesy of APGA government in the state. Today, we have adequate security. Once there is security, investors will start coming. Hotels and businesses in Anambra are thriving 2/4/7 because of security measures of APGA government.
There is no more stealing and kidnapping in Anambra State. In education, Anambra under APGA government is doing very well. Anambra has been maintaining first position in WAEC, NECO and similar exams. The state’s contingents came first in the recent debate competition organized in Singapore. Anambra pays staff salaries regularly. The state is developing in infrastructure and other areas”, he said.
He went further to urge Anambra people to resist any attempt from any quarter to take APGA away from them; stating that APGA is a religion and a movement of the Igbo people.
“Once you remove APGA from Anambra, you have killed the Igbo race politically. The party is their last political hope and identity”, he said.
He said that the present leadership crisis in APGA is a blessing in disguise; and that Obiano, against popular speculations, would clinch the party’s ticket and be returned for the second term; assuring that after the success story of November election in Anambra, the entire South Eastern states would come back to APGA.
He finally urged Anambra people to take advantage of the on-going voter registration exercise to secure ctheir voter cards and vote wisely during the coming election with continuity and security of APGA in their minds.
“Remember, APGA is our main blood stream. APGA is our vein and our heart, and once APGA is gone, the Igbo will hardly have any unique political identity. Anambra people must join forces to make sure that APGA and Willie Obiano emerge victorious in the November 18, 2017 election” he concluded.
We in APGA are not asking anybody to come and help us. What we are requesting is free and fair election
