Another round of intra party crisis is brewing in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) between supporters of the late Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s widow, Bianca and those supporting Governor Peter Obi over the leadership of the party.
It would be recalled that at a function in Enugu, a faction of APGA led by Maxi Okwu made Bianca the leader of the party while another faction led by Sir Victor Umeh in Awka recognised Obi as leader as well.
Ever since, both camps have been at each orders throat in attempt to take full control of the party.
According to Okwu at a function in February 16, 2013 where Board of Trustee (BOT) members like Tim Menakaya canvassed to make Peter Obi the leader of APGA which the governor turned down contending that even in death, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu remains the leader of our party.
“The governor however insisted that he accepts the position of deputy leader of APGA there by rejecting the leadership position. In another function at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka which was a well attended rally. The party faithful reaffirmed Ojukwu as the leader of the party and Governor Obi was there.
Okwu however dismissed the latest endorsement of Obi as leader of APGA, arguing that the said National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party that made the pronouncement is an illegal body and has no locus standi to do so.
“Those people that went to Awka to announce Peter Obi leader of APGA are illegal body. They do not even have the legal powers or instruments to make him leader of APGA. So whatever those people may have done was a nullity and of no consequence,” Okwu said.
He also explained “that is why we have gone to court for contempt of court proceedings against the former National Chairman Victor Umeh and Shinkafi his secretary”.
There is a judgment that subsists and that judgment made it clear that Umeh, Shinkafi and the rest of them are not National chairman and National secretary of APGA hence it is contemptuous for them to hold meetings in the name of APGA and make declarations or pronouncement that Peter Obi is the leader of the party.
But Okwu, whose faction made Bianca Ojukwu leader of APGA told Saturday Independent yes we made her leader because it cuts across all that has to do with late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, both his family, wife and all that there is about Ojukwu”.
Okwu however said that Bianca was not present at the occasion where she was made the leader of APGA and but that they had been in constant contact with her.
Ironically a source close to Bianca has it that she has expressed not happiness over her the appointment and she has not accepted position.
“She was furious about the appointment and she was not even informed by the group before the appointment was made. She has since distanced herself from that position of leader of APGA,” the source said.
When contacted, a supporter of Obi described Bianca appointment as funny and baseless adding that she cannot be APGA leader because she is not in the polity.
According to one of them who would not want his name on print, “how can that be? The leader of APGA today is Peter Obi and nobody else. Come to think of it, our society has not reached that stage of making a woman our leader. It is unAfrican and against the culture and tradition of Ndigbo as a people. If you make her leader, will she break the traditional kolanut? A woman does not break kola in Igbo land, not even in Nigeria. So those going about calling her APGA leader are just making fun of themselves,” the source said.
Source: Daily Independent
