Interim leadership fixes convention for April
Umeh
asks A’Court to reverse High Court’s order
asks A’Court to reverse High Court’s order
The leadership crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand
Alliance (APGA) has taken yet another dimension as two prominent members of the
family of Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the late founder of the party, Ambassador
Bianca Ojukwu and Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu (Jnr.) have been pitched
against each other in opposing camps.
Alliance (APGA) has taken yet another dimension as two prominent members of the
family of Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the late founder of the party, Ambassador
Bianca Ojukwu and Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu (Jnr.) have been pitched
against each other in opposing camps.
Eleven members of the National Working Committee (NWC), 35 state
chairmen and 29 National Executive Committee (NEC) members of APGA loyal to the
Chief Victor Umeh leadership, Wednesday appointed the son of the late leader of
the party, Emeka Ojukwu as a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
chairmen and 29 National Executive Committee (NEC) members of APGA loyal to the
Chief Victor Umeh leadership, Wednesday appointed the son of the late leader of
the party, Emeka Ojukwu as a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).
On the other hand, Ojukwu’s widow, Bianca is a prominent member
of the other faction of APGA loyal to the Deputy party leader and the Anambra
State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi.
of the other faction of APGA loyal to the Deputy party leader and the Anambra
State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi.
The nomination of Ojukwu’s son came on the heels of a counter
move by the interim National Chairman of APGA, Maxi Okwu who said a brand
new APGA would emerge at the national convention of the party slated for the
middle of April.
move by the interim National Chairman of APGA, Maxi Okwu who said a brand
new APGA would emerge at the national convention of the party slated for the
middle of April.
Okwu who disclosed this at an
interactive session with journalists Wednesday in Abuja, expressed optimism
that the ongoing reconciliation in the party was yielding fruitful results.
He said many aggrieved members of the party, including the Igbo Delegate
Assembly (IDA), a renowned group of Igbo professionals with national spread who
produced the APGA’s documents at the inception of the party, have indicated
interest to return to the party.
interactive session with journalists Wednesday in Abuja, expressed optimism
that the ongoing reconciliation in the party was yielding fruitful results.
He said many aggrieved members of the party, including the Igbo Delegate
Assembly (IDA), a renowned group of Igbo professionals with national spread who
produced the APGA’s documents at the inception of the party, have indicated
interest to return to the party.
“Our efforts to reconcile the aggrieved members of the party is
yielding fruitful results. There are some hiccups here and there but we are not
shaky, “ he said.
yielding fruitful results. There are some hiccups here and there but we are not
shaky, “ he said.
However, the party’s ousted
National Chairman Umeh, at a meeting with state party chairmen in Abuja,
insisted that he still remained in charge of the leadership of the party until
the Appeal Court discharges his appeal against the earleir lower court
judgment.
He said nobody, no matter how highly place, can intimidate the APGA leadership
into submitting to illegality.
National Chairman Umeh, at a meeting with state party chairmen in Abuja,
insisted that he still remained in charge of the leadership of the party until
the Appeal Court discharges his appeal against the earleir lower court
judgment.
He said nobody, no matter how highly place, can intimidate the APGA leadership
into submitting to illegality.
Umeh described the appointment of Emeka Ojukwu into the party’s
BoT as a good omen and a symbolic resurrection of the late national leader of
the party.
BoT as a good omen and a symbolic resurrection of the late national leader of
the party.
“ This is like the late Ikemba
returning in flesh and blood to the party, “ he said.
Ojukwu junior had in a speech accepting his appointment stated that “I am
humbled and honoured that you have entrusted me with the exceptional
responsibility assumed by my late father as a member of the BoT.
returning in flesh and blood to the party, “ he said.
Ojukwu junior had in a speech accepting his appointment stated that “I am
humbled and honoured that you have entrusted me with the exceptional
responsibility assumed by my late father as a member of the BoT.
“Joining your ranks at this time is made easier by the
steadfastness and resilience you have all demonstrated over the past one year
and a half since our leader passed away. Despite the unprecedented events
confronting our great party, this body led by the indefatigable Umeh has
resisted all attempts to destabilise and destroy what my father and all of you
have built,” he declared.
steadfastness and resilience you have all demonstrated over the past one year
and a half since our leader passed away. Despite the unprecedented events
confronting our great party, this body led by the indefatigable Umeh has
resisted all attempts to destabilise and destroy what my father and all of you
have built,” he declared.
Emeka Ojukwu noted that “at his feet I witnessed and learned
many things. I can’t assert to you that Eze Igbo had the utmost confidence in
Umeh’s leadership. He trusted him implicitly and relied on him even when on
some occasions, he disagreed with Umeh, as a mark of the leader, he was and he
would always dissect any pertinent matter, point by point, in order to convince
us of his perspective. In the end Umeh would be proven right.
many things. I can’t assert to you that Eze Igbo had the utmost confidence in
Umeh’s leadership. He trusted him implicitly and relied on him even when on
some occasions, he disagreed with Umeh, as a mark of the leader, he was and he
would always dissect any pertinent matter, point by point, in order to convince
us of his perspective. In the end Umeh would be proven right.
“In every democratic setup,
room must be allowed for divergent opinions. To those that clamour for change
within the leadership, I say to them, change, as always is inevitable. However
our leader did teach us of the wisdom and benefits gained by adhering to the
rule of law. Indeed our party’s historic rise to the positions of leadership in
Anambra State first and Imo State, was a prime example of this” he added.
On those clamouring for change in the party, Ojukwu said: “Our
constitution provides us with ways to achieve change without rancour and our
leader provided us with a lesson, which was that, above all, we should make
every attempt to resolve our problems internally, without losing focus on our
primary duty which is to set our personal ambitions aside and serve our people.
room must be allowed for divergent opinions. To those that clamour for change
within the leadership, I say to them, change, as always is inevitable. However
our leader did teach us of the wisdom and benefits gained by adhering to the
rule of law. Indeed our party’s historic rise to the positions of leadership in
Anambra State first and Imo State, was a prime example of this” he added.
On those clamouring for change in the party, Ojukwu said: “Our
constitution provides us with ways to achieve change without rancour and our
leader provided us with a lesson, which was that, above all, we should make
every attempt to resolve our problems internally, without losing focus on our
primary duty which is to set our personal ambitions aside and serve our people.
“While alive, we could always count on Eze Igbo to step in and
bring the party together and make difficult decisions he believed were in the
long-term interest of the party, our people and indeed our beloved Nigeria.
However, his greatest achievements in this regard were not just limited to his
successes in dealing with many crisis of past years” he added.
bring the party together and make difficult decisions he believed were in the
long-term interest of the party, our people and indeed our beloved Nigeria.
However, his greatest achievements in this regard were not just limited to his
successes in dealing with many crisis of past years” he added.
Meanwhile, Umeh has headed for the Enugu Division of the Court
of Appeal to seek an order of stay of execution of the Enugu State High Court
judgment pending the determination of his appeal against the decision of the
lower court.
of Appeal to seek an order of stay of execution of the Enugu State High Court
judgment pending the determination of his appeal against the decision of the
lower court.
The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, had
in his judgment delivered on February 8, in the motion brought before him by an
expelled member of APGA, Ichie Jude Okuli, restrained Umeh from parading
himself as APGA national chairman just as it held that the party’s convention
held on February 10, 2011 to re-elect the national chairman and other officers
“was unconstitutional, null and void.”
in his judgment delivered on February 8, in the motion brought before him by an
expelled member of APGA, Ichie Jude Okuli, restrained Umeh from parading
himself as APGA national chairman just as it held that the party’s convention
held on February 10, 2011 to re-elect the national chairman and other officers
“was unconstitutional, null and void.”
But in a 25-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion on
notice for stay of execution of the lower court’s decision filed before the
appellate court, Umeh stated that he had on February 11, applied to the lower
court for an order of stay of execution pending the determination of his
appeal.
notice for stay of execution of the lower court’s decision filed before the
appellate court, Umeh stated that he had on February 11, applied to the lower
court for an order of stay of execution pending the determination of his
appeal.
Source:
Thisday
Thisday
