ENUGU—FOR
describing the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as an
extremist, the National Chairman of the Peter Obi faction of All Progressives
Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, Wednesday, came under criticism with a
call on him to immediately tender an apology to Igbos for trying to rub mud on
the image and character of the former Biafran leader.
describing the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as an
extremist, the National Chairman of the Peter Obi faction of All Progressives
Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, Wednesday, came under criticism with a
call on him to immediately tender an apology to Igbos for trying to rub mud on
the image and character of the former Biafran leader.
The party said should Okwu fail to tender
apology to Ndigbo for daring to call Ojukwu an “Extrimist” he should be
ostracized for showing disrespect to the late leader of the party.
apology to Ndigbo for daring to call Ojukwu an “Extrimist” he should be
ostracized for showing disrespect to the late leader of the party.
Okwu had in
his post-election speech at the convention of APGA in Awka, Anambra State last
Monday, described Ojukwu as an extremist saying his leadership of the party
would adopt non-extremists philosophy of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He
said that “political reality in Nigeria does not favour extremism.”
his post-election speech at the convention of APGA in Awka, Anambra State last
Monday, described Ojukwu as an extremist saying his leadership of the party
would adopt non-extremists philosophy of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He
said that “political reality in Nigeria does not favour extremism.”
According to him, the reality of the time must
be faced, even though he would not like to out-rightly dump the late
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s seeming extremist stance in matters concerning
Ndigbo. “Zik was known for not blowing too hot on political issues, he was not
an extremist, and that philosophy will guide APGA henceforth,” said Okwu.
be faced, even though he would not like to out-rightly dump the late
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s seeming extremist stance in matters concerning
Ndigbo. “Zik was known for not blowing too hot on political issues, he was not
an extremist, and that philosophy will guide APGA henceforth,” said Okwu.
But reacting to the statement, Wednesday, Chief
Victor Umeh who was restored to office as National Chairman of the party by the
Court of Appeal Enugu on Monday, said that Okwu should apologize to Ndigbo for
casting an undeserved aspersion on their revered leader failing which he should
be ostracized.
Victor Umeh who was restored to office as National Chairman of the party by the
Court of Appeal Enugu on Monday, said that Okwu should apologize to Ndigbo for
casting an undeserved aspersion on their revered leader failing which he should
be ostracized.
Umeh, who addressed a press conference in Enugu,
stated that it was the height of insult and irresponsibility for Okwu to
dismiss Ojukwu and his struggle for emancipation of Ndigbo as an extremist,
noting that but for Ojukwu’s struggle Okwu and millions of Igbo wouldn’t have
been alive today.
stated that it was the height of insult and irresponsibility for Okwu to
dismiss Ojukwu and his struggle for emancipation of Ndigbo as an extremist,
noting that but for Ojukwu’s struggle Okwu and millions of Igbo wouldn’t have
been alive today.
He said that it was even a greater insult for
Okwu to stand on the platform of APGA, which Ojukwu fought and laboured to
wean, and denigrate him while Anambra State Governor, Mr. Obi, who he said was
the greatest beneficiary of Ojukwu’s struggle, sat down and watched.
Okwu to stand on the platform of APGA, which Ojukwu fought and laboured to
wean, and denigrate him while Anambra State Governor, Mr. Obi, who he said was
the greatest beneficiary of Ojukwu’s struggle, sat down and watched.
He recalled that Okwu was expelled from APGA
alongside Chief Chekwas Okorie, the former Chairman of the party, on alleged
perfidy and attempt to sell Obi’s mandate and that Ojukwu as a disciplinarian
supported their expulsion.
alongside Chief Chekwas Okorie, the former Chairman of the party, on alleged
perfidy and attempt to sell Obi’s mandate and that Ojukwu as a disciplinarian
supported their expulsion.
“For Maxi to come out now to describe our great
respected leader both in Nigeria and internationally as an extremist goes to
show you the level of destruction that he is planning for APGA.
respected leader both in Nigeria and internationally as an extremist goes to
show you the level of destruction that he is planning for APGA.
“From what he said, he has defined a new vision
for APPGA, which is a vision of moderation. Ojukwu was never an extremist,
Ojukwu was a man who stood very strongly for justice, a man who stood very
strongly against injustice, a man who stood against oppression of people, a man
who stood for equity and fairness, a man who stood for rule of law, a man who
stood for democracy.
for APPGA, which is a vision of moderation. Ojukwu was never an extremist,
Ojukwu was a man who stood very strongly for justice, a man who stood very
strongly against injustice, a man who stood against oppression of people, a man
who stood for equity and fairness, a man who stood for rule of law, a man who
stood for democracy.
“It is an abomination for any person who claims
to be standing on the platform of APGA to describe Ojukwu’s virtues as
extremist. This is blasphemy of the highest proportion and those of us who
worked with Ojukwu as our leader in APGA, those he left APGA in their hands
will not stand by and watch and see a man who does not have any political
character or vision begin to describe Ojukwu in such denigrating words; I call
on not just APGA members but Ndigbo in general to ostracize Maxi Okwu until he
retracts that statement and renders unreserved apology to Ndigbo.” he said.
to be standing on the platform of APGA to describe Ojukwu’s virtues as
extremist. This is blasphemy of the highest proportion and those of us who
worked with Ojukwu as our leader in APGA, those he left APGA in their hands
will not stand by and watch and see a man who does not have any political
character or vision begin to describe Ojukwu in such denigrating words; I call
on not just APGA members but Ndigbo in general to ostracize Maxi Okwu until he
retracts that statement and renders unreserved apology to Ndigbo.” he said.
On Okwu’s remarks that the appeal court ruling
that granted a stay of execution of Justice Innocent Umezurike’s high court
judgment and restored Umeh as National Chairman of the party was an exercise in
futility, Umeh said that it was further demonstration of the fact that Okwu was
not familiar with the law even though a lawyer.
that granted a stay of execution of Justice Innocent Umezurike’s high court
judgment and restored Umeh as National Chairman of the party was an exercise in
futility, Umeh said that it was further demonstration of the fact that Okwu was
not familiar with the law even though a lawyer.
He said that the case had declarative and
injunctive elements, adding that even though the court was right to say that it
has no business to stay the declarative orders made by the Enugu high court, it
had powers to stay the injunctive orders which removed him from office, which
was what the appellate court did.
injunctive elements, adding that even though the court was right to say that it
has no business to stay the declarative orders made by the Enugu high court, it
had powers to stay the injunctive orders which removed him from office, which
was what the appellate court did.
Umeh stressed that the appeal court also
considered the fact that his appeal was based on jurisdiction of the trial
court to handle the case in the first instance, which according to common law
practice ought to have made Justice Umezurike to disqualify himself.
considered the fact that his appeal was based on jurisdiction of the trial
court to handle the case in the first instance, which according to common law
practice ought to have made Justice Umezurike to disqualify himself.
On the claim by Umeh and Governor Obi that their
national convention was valid, Umeh said that what they did was a nullity and
that many documents were forged to deceive INEC into coming to observe the
convention, even though, INEC’s observation of any convention does not confer
validity on the process as even INEC itself can still reject it after studying
the reports as it did in the case of PDP.
national convention was valid, Umeh said that what they did was a nullity and
that many documents were forged to deceive INEC into coming to observe the
convention, even though, INEC’s observation of any convention does not confer
validity on the process as even INEC itself can still reject it after studying
the reports as it did in the case of PDP.
He said that in due course Okwu and his
co-travelers would be committed to prison for alleged forgery.
co-travelers would be committed to prison for alleged forgery.
Source: Vanguard
