The two governors of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), governors Peter Obi of Anambra State and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State have been blamed for the latest crisis rocking the party.
While there have been disagreements amongst stakeholders of the party over the bid by Okorocha to drag the party into the merger of opposition parties in Nigeria, the sacking last Friday of the Chief Victor Umeh - led leadership of the party by an Enugu High Court was said to be the handiwork of governor Peter Obi.
Speaking with correspondents at the weekend in Abuja, a founding member of APGA from Enugu State, Chief Willy Ezugwu said it was unfortunate that the power tussle in the party had been elevated to a point of ruthlessness which could lead to the disintegration of the party if care wasn’t taken.
“There is no where in any party’s constitution that the governor takes decision by himself without recourse to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC) and leaders.
“Obi has been doing this. He has created factions in APGA and is responsible for its infiltration and the leadership crisis currently rocking the party. I dare say he is doing this for the PDP and this is sad”, Ezugwu said.
He regretted that this was a huge betrayal on late APGA leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, adding that were it not for Ojukwu who had to kneel down and beg Anambra people to vote for Peter Obi, the incumbent wouldn’t have been governor, adding that Ojukwu would be fuming with rage in his grave.
On the merger move on behalf of the party by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Ezugwu who doubles as the secretary general of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), said Okorocha was on his own as selfish interest was the underlining motive for his action.
“There is no way APGA could just be dragged into this merger bid by an individual without due discussion amongst members.
“The painful factor in all these is that these persons allegedly discussing this merger bid are just newcomers who do not even know how the party was formed. They only used the party to win elections and now feel they can become lords over the party. That to me is unfortunate and highly regrettable,” Ezugwu said.
--------Stanley Nkwocha, Leadership, February 11, 2013
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