quote:Expulsion galore in APGA; INEC nails Umeh’s faction By Chuks Ehirim Daily Independent Online Senior Correspondent, Abuja
Wednesday January 12th, 2005
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) witnessed a torrent of expulsions Tuesday when the two camps fighting for the soul of the party met in Abuja.
At the party’s national secretariat, Gwarinpa Housing Estate, the authentic group led by the party’s national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, had its National Working Committee (NWC) and endorsed the recommendation of its special disciplinary committee set up in December, 2004 to try the dissident group.
The seven-man committee led by APGA governorship candidate in Zamfara State, during the 2003 general elections, Barrister Umar Bello, had recommended that all those who were either directly or indirectly linked with the splinter group, should be expelled from the party.
Also, at the Acade Hotel where the dissident faction led by the party’s national treasurer, Victor Umeh, held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, it stated that it ratified the recommendation of its factional NWC that both Chekwas Okorie, Maxi Okwu and the party’s deputy national chairman (north), Hassan Bello, should be expelled.
Ironically, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is said to have declared as illegal and unconstitutional, the activities of the Umeh group.
A source in INEC informed Daily Independent that a memo has gone from the commission’s legal department to the chairman, Abel Guobadia, informing that what the Umeh faction is doing is inconsistent with the APGA constitution.
Confirming the report, APGA chairman, Okorie,I told journalists after a mini rally held at the party’s secretariat and attended by over 30 states chairmen of APGA, that “INEC has dismissed the petition as frivolous and also lacking in merit”.
INEC had earlier cleared Okorie on the allegation of financial impropriety levelled against him by the dissidents. The commission stated that it has no problem with the party’s audited account.
Speaking further, Okorie said the recommendations of the disciplinary committee, having been ratified by the NWC, would be submitted to the NEC, which meets today. He asserted that the party’s highest authority would endorse the recommendation.
“We have accepted that recommendation, and we are passing this recommendation to the body vested with executive authority of the party, that is, NEC.
“We expect the NEC to ratify the decision and if that is ratified, we will proceed immediately, to replace those positions”, said he.
He said that zonal leaders of the party have been asked to do a quick election or selection of officers to fill the expected vacancies.
This appeared to have been done in some cases already. The northern caucus of the party, which expelled Sani Shinkafi as the national secretary, has already Barrister Umar Bello as his replacement. In the same vein, the FCT chapter of the party has chosen Obiorah Chidozie as its chairman, in place of Emeka Ofoeki who is in the Umeh faction.
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A LOOK INTO THE PAST: OKORIE APGA REACTS TO AMBUSH ASSAULT BY UMEH SPLINTER OF APGA (2)
quote:APGA expels Umeh, five others From Emmanuel Onwubiko, Abuja Newspaper ? Posted at Igbo Excalibur on 01-12-05
OSTENSIBLY to restore sanity in the party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday in Abuja expelled its National Treasurer, Chief Victor Umeh.
Umeh had been at the centre of a crisis, which recently engulfed the party as he declared himself the national chairman and announced the expulsion of the leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie.
Others expelled from the party include former National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, Dr. Victor Ezekiel Izuogu, National Youth Leader, Mr. Mike Adams, Mrs. Ellah Innocent Ukpo, Masallah and Mohammed Kupti.
The party's national disciplinary committee led by Bello Umar announced their expulsion.
Yesterday's National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting was chaired by Okorie and attended by majority of the executive officers.
Among the party's national officials who attended the meeting include Alhaji Hassan Bello, deputy national chairman, North and Hajia Benta Rufus Gwarzo, national women leader.
At the meeting, an audit of the party's account was presented to the delegates.The audit was prepared by Adetunji Adelagun, chartered accountants appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In the audit, the national chairman was absolved of all allegations of financial wrongdoing.
The party's national disciplinary committee, according to its chairman, Umar, found the factional members guilty of violating relevant sections of the party's constitution as enshrined in articles 21 and 29.
Umar added that the dissident group did not have the constitutional powers to organise a legitimate parley of the party's leadership.
In his address, Okorie told journalists that he would sue Umeh for libel.
His words: "Let me state in my honour, that I neither embezzled nor misappropriated the sum of N60 million belonging to APGA as levelled against me by my accusers. I did not operate accounts single handedly. The money accruing to APGA from INEC from the date of registration to the present day is no more than N11.75 million." Okorie said that between January to December last year, APGA did not generate any income. He also denied running APGA as a private business, adding, "a private business, by every intent and purpose, should be profit-oriented. If I had any intention to run APGA as a private business, the sensible thing to do was to align the party with the establishment and reap profit and other gains." Okorie added: "It has become obvious that the dissidents had no intentions whatsoever to tow the officially stipulated process of protest as enshrined in the party's constitution duly registered with INEC. APGA constitution contemplated that in the event of the removal of the national chairman, the deputy national chairman takes over temporarily." Speaking on why APGA is being attacked from different quarters, Okorie said: "I will like to state with profound joy that our great party, APGA, which a couple of years ago was seen more like a rustic village girl, who nobody desired, has turned out to become a paragon of beauty, sophisticated and complete with all modern psychedelic paraphernalia."
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A LOOK INTO THE PAST: CONTROVERSIAL ACTIONS BY UMEH WHICH CREATED UNEASE AND CONFUSION AMONG IGBO
quote:APGA faction opposes suit against PDP panel on Ngige By From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
01-17-05
THE Chief Victor Umeh-led faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has disowned the suit filed by the embattled National Chairman of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, seeking an injunction to restrain the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) panel investigating the political crisis in Anambra State.
Umeh, who spoke with reporters in Enugu yesterday, also said that the silence of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu on the leadership crisis rocking the party was "ominous." He said this indicated that something was wrong with the party, pointing out that should Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who was the presidential candidate of the party, abandon it for another as a result of the crisis, it would mark the end of APGA in the nation's political history.
Umeh, whose faction of APGA is locked in battle with Okorie over the control of the party, in disowning the suit, remarked that Okorie had no locus standi to institute the action, having been expelled from APGA.
He stressed that the party could not understand the basis for the suit when the ongoing inquiry in the PDP panel did not any way endangered the proceedings of the Anambra State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka.
Okorie had last week gone to the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he filed a suit seeking the restriction of the PDP panel on Anambra crisis, led by Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from trying the matter.
Joined in the suit were President Olusegun Obasanjo, members of the panel and the PDP.
But Umeh said Okorie, by the suit, had further exposed his reported alliance with Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State in the latter's bid to survive moves within the PDP to remove him.
Umeh described these moves as being at variance with APGA's determined struggle to recover the mandate given to its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in the 2003 gubernatorial election.
His words: "You will recall that one of the reasons for expelling Okorie from APGA was anti-party activity. The panel that visited Anambra State reported to National Working Committee that Okorie directed them to pay a solidarity visit to Ngige on December 13, 2004. This directive was shunned by members of the panel despite the threat by Okorie that he would sack them from the party if they failed to comply.
"The NWC viewed this action as gross anti-party activity, particularly with the fact that two weeks to that date, Okorie had called all the governors of the South-East to rise and show solidarity to Ngige if they still have any blood flowing in their veins.
"The party was embarrassed by this action as our governorship candidate in that state is still in court pursuing the recovery of the mandate which the people of Anambra gave to him and was openly taken away," he added.
Umeh maintained that his faction was in firm control of the party's structure, stressing that APGA's recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja was attended by over 90 per cent of members of the committee, as against Okorie's "minority NEC meeting".
He noted that claims by Okorie that the sum of N300,000 was shared to each delegate to the NEC meeting further showed his desperation to remain in office.
On why his faction had not taken control of the party's national secretariat, Umeh said that the possession of the office was not a major issue since membership, and not the building, constituted the party.
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Hopefully, we can balance past information against the ensuing occurresnces to gain better perspective. I maintain the nagging questions which I posted on page 2.
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Ukaobasi, Thanks for your effort to bring reason to bear in the present APGA controversies. I have always thought of Ojukwu as a big symbol of Igbo survival. There are a few young Igbos who Ojukwu has inspired to do things. The MASSOB nationalists and APGA nationalists like Chekwas Okorie are just two examples. We should celebrate the fact that some of the most important leadership projects in the last few years have come from the afore mentioned nationalists inspired by Ojukwu. We should also not lose sight of the fact that Ojukwu is already 71 years old. I don't see him representing Igbo interest in the company of people like Umeh. Great nations like United Kingdom and USA do actually enthrust leadership to young enthusiastic men. In the absence of evidence that Chekwas Okorie has worked against Igbo interest, it is an abomination to effectively sideline him. Unless there is such evidence, I think Ojukwu should retire from politics and leave young energetic Igbo sons to continue the work of liberating Igboland which he Ojukwu started.
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I think Ojukwu should retire too for he is not a tactful politician. Ojukwu is no Zik and Zik can never be Ojukwu.
If Ojukwu were a tactful politician, he should have stayed the same course with Enahoro and Soyinka group on SNC. Now, while Obasanjo appears to be begging Enahoro to chair his undemocratic dialogue, it appears that Ojukwu is acting in such a way that he may recieve Obj's blessings to attend the dialogue that is bound to fail in the first place.
Ojukwu can only be effective in such a conference if he is sent by his people. With his latest romance with Obj, I doubt if Ojukwu would have much of a positive impact of on Igbo issues. He may probably come out richer like everyone else.
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Great nations like United Kingdom and USA do actually enthrust leadership to young enthusiastic men. In the absence of evidence that Chekwas Okorie has worked against Igbo interest, it is an abomination to effectively sideline him. Unless there is such evidence, I think Ojukwu should retire from politics and leave young energetic Igbo sons to continue the work of liberating Igboland which he Ojukwu started.
CSE,
You could'nt have read my mind more accurately, as I happen to agree with you on that very score, that as Ojukwu fades into the sunset like an old soldier, a young turk with a likewise keenly focused mind as Ojukwu has displayed must move in to take his place.
TRANSITION WITH TOO MUCH UNACCOUNTABILITY IS BOUND TO FALL APART
Yet I see Ojukwu taking a final stand to ensure that Igbo leaders (having anything to do with him) are accountable to Igbos and not just above reproach and review just because they have made personal sacrifices to represent Igbo interests. If there is anything Ojukwu may have learnt and wish he could do over again, this may be it and maybe why Ojukwu is trying to ensure that it is not all about the leader, but about a fool-proof "system/structure" to unify and hold Igbos together on a sustained basis.
There is no doubt in my mind that Okorie is more assertive, and in more complete command of Igbo issues and concerns vis-a-vis the "Nigerian" context, and that the blueprint and instinct for our best interest and the strategic ways to achieve it is lodged firmly in his gut as a protege to Ojukwu this is why I have severally characterized Chekwas Okorie as an "Igbo asset", both in private and in public.
DANGERS TO A MIS-HANDLED TRANSITION
The Igbo nation has been blessed or cursed with great internal diversity, to add to these, our republican nature guarantees that when it comes to organized formation, the sons of the Sahel and Savannah who are used to falling into organized formation at a moments notice, may without greater intelligence, manage to come out with the upper hand on a repeated basis, and in spheres which we believe rightfully belong to our superior capability.
It is in the above wise that I believe that any transitioning to a tried and proven Igbo son must be a very careful one. Okories utterances must continue to be as guarded as possible as it regards Ikemba, and if there was any reason at all that made Ikemba act to yield his support to the Umeh group, about which Ikemba is keeping mum so as not to embarrass Okorie, it is incumbent upon Okorie to make moves to go and determine what it is so that if any clarification is to be had, it would be had by all parties involved and with sober sincerity.
DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF PARTY FUNDS AND OTHER MATTERS BY OJUKWU MUST NOT BE SIDESTEPPED CONDESCENDINGLY AND CAVALIERLY
Chekwas Okorie may be in the right, but It is not enough for Okorie to dismissedly view Ojukwu's inquest to give proper account as irrelevant or to substitute required documents with a declaration from INEC of their blessing, especially in matters such as the accounting of reciepts and signed cheques for expenditure on behalf of APGA which should have nothing to do with INEC, and in answer to Ojukwu whom he claims to respect.
What kind of respect would he be giving by appearing to be insulting the intelligence of Ikemba, the very one whom Okorie claims to be like a father figure? What kind of respect is represented by appearing to be totally ignoring or sidestepping Ojukwus request for Chekwas to clear his name? thereby treating him (Ojukwu) like a figurehead imbecile as Chekwas wheels and deals with Hausa and "Nigerian" officials all in the seeming appearance and belief that Ojukwu is no longer relevant other than as a rubberstamp whose association is valued merely for the loyalty he invokes in Igbos?
TOWARD A SMOOTH TRANSITION: NO SCANDAL NO HUBRIS
This is what I glean from the whole matter, and any transition to Okorie, wrested by unsolved scandal and unnecessary hubris, will fail to get any ounce of sympathy, respect, or support from many. In fact there would then be no difference in the perception of many between percieved APGA sleaziness and the known PDP sleaziness of players including not just the likes of Orji Kalu and Rudolfus Nwagbara but also the likes of Nzeribe, Ubah, Offor and co.
There are Igbo sons and daughters willing to be deployed when the occasion arises to take many measures to ensure that they act in unison to represent Igbo well in the different spheres in which they operate, and many who already deploy their various skills in the belief that those who are on ground are acting in unison in an unspoken but understood mission to redeem our honor. Imagine if all those people were to tune out and say the heck with it, because a transition was not handled properly and their faith and trust was betrayed?
AVOIDABLE BUT IMPENDING DANGER
The above is what seems about to happen. Transitions are usually conducted by the Younger generation with the guidance of the older ones so it is incumbent upon Chekwas Okorie to be the one to go back to Ojukwu and deliver the explanations due, and for which Ikemba appears to have given a wide berth of time. Explanations should be done with sincerity and without gimmicks, and should be completely unambiguous, that way the arbitration role which was expected of Ojukwu would then have a chance to be acted upon rather than asking Ojukwu to act the arbiter, and at the same time sidestep him completely or merely humor him along as if he were senile.
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A STABLE FOUNDATION
If the above is what happened, then I would have done the very same thing Ojukwu did, because in the end while a Chekwas Okorie APGA may appear on the short term to be going places as a "desirable bride with psychadaellic paraphenalia", on the long term, only the entity built on a stable foundation of truth and integrity, no matter how lacking at first, will abide the test of time, especially among Igbo.
As to the Umeh faction, notice that I have dwelt more on Chekwas Okorie because I dont recognize any other APGA than the one Okorie founded and still heads. I repeat that my gripe with Umeh's gathering is that they have no right to have sought to destroy the party, and the efforts that Okorie made, and worst of all to have sought to rub Okories mouth in the dust to boot. That gathering still has an uphill task to prove that they were not planted to sew mischief, but genuinely frustrated in their effort to bring about a more reliable and accountable order. I believe that when Okorie has put matters right with Ojukwu, that he can further unify Igbos my magnanimously accomodating Umeh and associates if they immediately close ranks under him, and apply themselves to helping Chekwas lead the Igbo nation to bigger and better things which I'm confident that a unified APGA with Chekwas at the accountable helm is more than capable of bringing about politically.
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quote:Originally posted by CSE: Ukaobasi, We should also not lose sight of the fact that Ojukwu is already 71 years old. I don't see him representing Igbo interest in the company of people like Umeh. Great nations like United Kingdom and USA do actually enthrust leadership to young enthusiastic men. I think Ojukwu should retire from politics and leave young energetic Igbo sons to continue the work of liberating Igboland which he Ojukwu started.
I cannot quite agree with these statements. We have often in the past made the mistake of copying the white man blindly for good or for bad. In the tradition and history of Igbo`s (omen`ala) it is the elders who are entrusted with mentaining diplomatic and political missions of that magnitude. It is rightly believed that they have the required experience and wisdom to be able to counter the opponents moves effectively. The role of the active young men is reserved for economic and martial exploits where they gather their own wisdom until they have come of age. Ojukwu is the only Igbo leader who has paid his dues and he is the only one that is generally acceptable to a broad spectrum of Igbo. He has sacrificed more than he could ever gain from this fight. when the Ikemba goes who will replace him? is it the likes of chekwas, umeh, etc. None of them has the charisma nor I dare say the experience of the Ikemba. Asking him to retire at the prime of his life is unreasonable. Especially since he is mentally and physicaly fit. And even the british and americans you mention have been known to field leaders far in eccess of 71 years of age. See for example churchill, Bush snr, etc.
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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I think Ikemba made a mistake in joining Umeh, right now I believe what Chekwas said that Umeh will drag Ikemba down is true. It looks like Ndigbo are not following Ikemba to Umeh's faction.
Apparently perturbed by criticisms over his recent acceptance to serve on the board of one of the factions of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has defended his action saying that his interest was to make the party truly national. An offer by the Chief Victor Umeh led faction of the APGA for him to serve on its board as a chairman, which Ojukwu accepted is currently eliciting various reactions from opinion holders especially from the Southeast, majority of whom condemning the action as "unfair". Those who hold negative views contend that Ikemba as the pillar of the party ought to mediate in the crisis to find lasting solution that would advance the course of the party. But receiving a delegation of the party from Abia State, who visited his Enugu residence, Ojukwu maintained he has no apology for his action, insisting that he had investigated the crisis to come to reality that the action he took was imperative and for the survival of the party. "I have investigated the crisis to discover that the action is imperative for it to succeed. I do not have any personal interest beyond that which can foster unity and ensure the re-engineering of APGA to make it a strong and national party." He stated that he has no personal quarrel with Chief Chekwas Okorie, and had not pitched tent with the Umeh faction for selfish interest, but for peace, justice and fair play for the growth and benefit of members of the party.
quote:I cannot quite agree with these statements. We have often in the past made the mistake of copying the white man blindly for good or for bad. In the tradition and history of Igbo`s (omen`ala) it is the elders who are entrusted with mentaining diplomatic and political missions of that magnitude. .............................................................. And even the british and americans you mention have been known to field leaders far in eccess of 71 years of age. See for example churchill, Bush snr, etc. Ochiwar
I often ask myself if I can trust Nigeria's elders to manage my finances, health or child care. My answer is big NO. Old western leaders usualy have a thing or two to show for their stewardship of their countries. I don't know which Nigerian elder in politics is in it for any thing other than cheap money for the pensions they failed to build for themselves and the people they ruled. I wonder in which western country that former presidents are aspiring to become future presidents inspite of their woeful past performances. I keep asking which normal country allows self appointed wise elders to undermine her criminal justice system by interfering in every criminal case in the name of peace panels. What so far have our wise elders achieved mediating in the criminal case of Ngige/Uba thuggery?
How do you think the following failed former retired corrupt dementing elders can achieve anything?
quote:Benin boils over confab nominees Hundreds of youths from different parts of Edo State who had converged on Benin took to the streets as early as 8.00 am protesting the nomination of former Chief of General Staff (CGS) in the Abdulsalami Abubakar regime, Admiral Mike Akhigbe, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Richard Ango, former Chief of Staff to the state Governor, Mr Sam Iredia, former House of Representatives for Edo North Mr Tunde Lakoju, and a lawyers, Mr Fred Eghobamien (SAN).
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CSE: I agree 100% It will be hard to find a Nigerian 'Elder' in polictics for the general good. They are all in it for cheap, myiopic gains. Like in every thing, Nigeria always proves knowm logic wrong. like old age akin to wisdom, not in Nigeria.
Ukaobasi
Accountability should be required of public steward. Every organization should have an internal and external audit mechanism. witchhunting and purpoted investigations should not be used only when you are in disagreement with someone. I am more baffled that Ojukwu is canvassing to be in OBJ's wayo dialogue. After Aburi, one would have thought that dialogue, conference or whatever you may call it means nothing if it is not done in sincerity and implemented. OBj's past record shows he will never implement or see anything to conlcusion i.e Oputa panel, Corruption tribunal, Fuel price hike, Nepa etc etc. in each instance OBj promised heaven on earth and only delivered hell, hottest part of hell.
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CSE, I think it would be rather unfair to place the Ikemba in the same category of elders as the likes of tom ikimi and mike akhigbe and the rest of those Northern stooges. none of them is the Ikemba`s mate, neither in age, character, nor on any other level. Infact when I say to U Igbo elders I wonder why you reply me with such people as your examples of Igbo elders? And when you talk of them being in politics only for personal gains I must tell you that alas, this is an disease that afflicts not only the elders. Look at the uba`s, ngige`s and the rest of them. That problem cannot even by the most wishfull of thinking be generalised as being responsible to the age factor. That is oversimplification at best .
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by CSE: [QB] [ I often ask myself if I can trust Nigeria's elders to manage my finances, health or child care. My answer is big NO. What so far have our wise elders achieved mediating in the criminal case of Ngige/Uba thuggery?
Bros, I really don`t think the mistrust should be age related.The cost of running for any public office in Nigeria today is too exhorbitant.INEC makes sure that the nomination forms cost way beyond what any ordinary decent Nigerian can afford.The political parties also hike their levies believing it is a way of funding the parties.Thus,the massive crop of concerned Nigerians are either unable to afford these huge costs of running for public offices or would have to compromise with god fathers to bankroll their election.
The solution therefore is to do away with this military designed democratic process we are practising.Put a ceiling on how much Inec should collect for nomination forms,how much a private individual or company should contribute to the election of someone into office.As is done in the advanced democracies.As soon as the profit and loss mentality is forced out from the electoral process,the system would become affordable and accessible to decent men who would want to serve their people in the public offices.Thus a few good men would appear on the scene.
quote:The solution therefore is to do away with this military designed democratic process we are practising.Put a ceiling on how much Inec should collect for nomination forms,how much a private individual or company should contribute to the election of someone into office.
Brother, talk to us, maaaaaaaan! Just talk!!
Although I'll prefer to put the first line like so, "Part of the solution..."
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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APGA crisis: Chekwas group shuns Ojukwu’s parley
THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) stakeholders’ meeting called by the presidential candidate in the 2003 polls, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu today will not be attended by the Chekwas Okorie’s group.
Besides, the group queried Ojukwu’s right to summon such meeting, which APGA’s National Working Committee (NWC) members, among others, are expected to attend, saying that by the provisions of the party’s constitution submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ojukwu lacked the authority to convene the meeting.
Media reports on Sunday had referred to a statement credited to Ojukwu in which he convened the said meeting for today at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu.
The reports quoted the presidential candidate as listing those to attend as NWC members, zonal officers, state chairmen and secretaries, gubernatorial candidates and their deputies, APGA members of the National Assembly, federal legislative candidates and party chieftains. But speaking to Daily Champion Sunday night, Deputy National Chairman of APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu said the chairman, Chief Okorie, and himself will not attend as "we were not invited." Ojukwu, he added, lacks the competence to convene such meeting, going by the party’s constitution. "With great respects, Gburugburu (Ojukwu) has no competence to call such meeting. By the constitution of APGA filed with INEC, he has no competence to call such meeting.
"In any case, the matter is in court, it is subjudice to comment on it. It will be contempt of court," Okwu said. "If you look at it on paper, it’s a factional meeting to consolidate on their perceived gains. Chekwas has not been invited, neither was I," Okwu added. Chief Okwu, who is also the Secretary-General of the opposition Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), counselled that APGA peacemakers take a cue from All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which last week settled its own internal crisis "in a private residence, in a discreet manner, not in a public gathering." The APGA chieftain stressed that "a meeting of stakeholders is expected to cause the party to move forward," pointing out that "the way and manner Ojukwu is going about it is exacerbating the matter."
But Hanna Njemanze, who described herself as a member of the APGA executive of the Sir Victor Umeh faction, told Daily Champion that it would be wrong of Ojukwu to invite Okorie or any other persons "who have been expelled from the party" to the said stakeholders’ meeting. Crisis erupted in APGA towards the end of last year when the Ume’s faction accused Okorie’s of embezzling the party’s funds to the tune of about N60 million and also for running a one-man show, charges Okorie promptly denied.
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The questions that should be on every reasonable person's lips are;
Where in the hell is the shrook known as victor umeh's outrage now that obasanjo used him to create confusion in APGA?
Why haven't the same betrayer held a press conference to denounce the embarrassing omission of Ojukwu's name from that list?
Could umeh's absence be a result of a pre designed agenda to sideline Ikemba?
Is there anyone still confused as to what happened?
Now, let's reverse the same situation and see how it did play had Ojukwu not fallen into umeh's trap and stayed where he belonged, Okorie would have raised alarm and condemned in no uncertain way the open insult thereby preserving Ojukwu's place in the society. umeh conveniently is not bothered about this more so now that his mission to help obasanjo accomplish his diabolic goal has been accomplished.
___________________ BIAFRA: The land of my ancestors now, yesterday and always. So it will be! Posts: 2482 | From: Ala Igbo | Registered: Apr 2004
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Interesting, BNW noted the rented crowd of youths that payed homage to Ikemba not too long ago. There are those who are really determined to rubbish Ikemba in the eyes of Ndigbo and so far they seem to be succeeding with Ikemba's help himself. -------------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 19 2005
IYM warns detractors on APGA crisis
THOSE who have been fanning the embers of the crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have been told to desist from doing so for the interest of the party and that of Ndigbo.
In a telephone interview with Saturday Champion, president of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) Evangelist Elliot Ukoh, says the crisis in the party is unfortunate, but that a lot of detractors are milling round Ojukwu and sowing seeds of disaffection.
"I can tell you clearly, that I know Ojukwu very well and I know Chekwas also. I have respect for both of them. Ordinarily, I think before now they should have made up, but the problem is that some people are inducing Ojukwu to take the stand he is presently taking," he said.
According to him, Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, is a man of character who has been acting like a father to Okorie and Umeh and therefore was ready at any time to mend ways with Okorie.
"The Ojukwu I know is a father to all of the warring factions. Ordinarily, this crisis would not have gone to this extent, but except for some detractors who are surrounding him and most of these people are his relations," Elliot said.
Evangelist Ukoh believes that there is need to resolve the crisis amicably because of the several interest of Ndigbo.
"Every Igbo man holds this party in high esteem and it would be wrong to stand by and watch as the party disintegrates. This shouldn’t be allowed to happen to APGA. That is the reason why there is need for this crisis to be resolved quickly."
He warned those he called detractors who stay in their bedroom fomenting trouble by taking sides to stay clear of this crisis.
"I read the other day one group that calls itself, National Association of Igbo Youths Movement, there is nothing like this; they are people who are seeking jobs to do and they are the people causing crisis in the party," he said.
Posts: 1532 | From: USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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By Tony Edike & Chinyere Amalu Posted to the Web: Saturday, February 19, 2005
• As FG names chairman
ENUGU— FORMER Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has exploded, declaring his exclusion from the list of delegates to the proposed National Dialogue as one of the tragedies of Nigeria. He said he was disappointed to read in the papers that "my name was not there."... Ojukwu told reporters at his Independence Layout residence in Enugu yesterday, that it was the wish of the people of the South East that he should be present at the conference and this informed the approach made to me by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to lead Igbo delegates to the dialogue, but it had become clear that some people were not comfortable with his participation... Apart from his exclusion from the confab, the Ikemba is also not happy that former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and erstwhile Secretary General of Ohanaeze and a constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, were not considered for the conference... That I was not chosen is essentially one of the tragedies of Nigeria. I said very often and in so many words, that I am one Nigerian that the authorities in Nigeria have not permitted to be Nigerian whenever there is something to be done for some unknown reasons, it becomes clear that they don’t want me to participate.
I don’t know what they are afraid of. Intellectually too, I must say, I always laugh particularly at things like this. It is clear to me that somebody doesn’t want to confront my argument in the dialogue. Whether they like it or not, they will not confront my arguments, they will confront my views. It is not just those who attend the conference that are patriots, there will be quite a lot of us outside the conference that will be doing our best to be of service to our people.... Read MORE
___________________ Biafra is inevitable.Illegitimis nil carborundum. Posts: 760 | From: europe | Registered: Jan 2005
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