. . Bemoans Disunity in Party
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, says there is obvious disconnect between the party leadership and stakeholders of the party in Anambra State, noting that as long as there is lack of unity in the party, the party cannot achieve anything meaningful.
The Vice President who stated this during an interactive roundtable with the VP, organised by the state chapter of APC held at Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka, Themed: “Repositioning APC Anambra state chapter in the Next level Era” called for concerted effort to enable the party achieve its set objectives.
Osibanjo noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had a special love for Anambra state, recalling that on two occasions he (Buhari) had contested for the presidency of the country, he chose late Chuba Okadigbo and Chief Edwin Umezuoke as running mates.
He announced that in the next three months the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka would be the first University to have its own independent power plant in Nigeria.
Those who spoke during the Roundtable With VP included Sen. Emma Anosike, Chief Ford Dike, National Youth leader South East, Olisa Emeka Onyeka, former member representing Awka North State Constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon Mrs. Rebecca Udorji and gubernatorial candidate of the party in the last election, Comrade Tony Nwoye who described the party in Anambra as a colossal failure.
Nwoye said that the party’s members in the state out of frustration worked for other political parties during the last general elections, lamenting that candidates of the party could not participate actively in the last election in the state.
They all protested what they described as marginalisation and abandonment of the members of the party in Anambra state by the national leadership of the party and the APC government
In his welcome address, the state Chairman of the party Mr Basil Ejidike, the members contended that most appointments and social security programs embarked upon by the Federal government were given to members of the opposition party, practically abandoning card-carrying members of the party.
‘Your Excellency we cry for a reward system that recognized hard work commitments and party loyalty.
‘Our members have not been part of the many social intervention schemes of the Federal government in this state,’ he said.
Other members of the party and other strong supporters also criticized the appointment of a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA Chief Anayo Nnebe by the speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajiamila as the special adviser political for the South East even when he worked against the party in Anambra.
They called on the Vice President to compel the speaker to revert the appointment and appoint a loyal party member instead.
They appealed to him to create a special intervention in all social intervention schemes of Federal government for Anambra state to take care of the party members at the period of intense mobilization and planning for the governorship election in the state come 2021.
They equally urged the Vice President to intervene with the assistance of Sen Chris Ngige and convene a dialogue session with leaders of the party in his office in Abuja as according to them that would be the only remedy to the problem of the party in the state.
The duo of Sen Chris Ngige and the Chairman of the occasion, Chief George Moughalu who represented the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole appealed for calm and patience, promising that all the grey areas would be addressed.
