A child that says that his mother will not sleep will be awake with his mother. Such could better be used to describe the speedy decline of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State – a state known as the Light of the Nation.
APGA is a party Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu popularized in Southeastern Nigeria to engender Igbo thought and philosophy. Governor Peter Obi performed so wonderfully that it was an easy sail for Dr. Willie Obiano to succeed him, and flap his political wings.
However, the APGA cohesion is gradually collapsing, and the centre cannot hold any longer. Self-interest, sentiment, favouritism and prejudice are sapping the philosophy and progress of the APGA party. The alleged plan to cloak Professor Charles Soludo as the governorship flagbearer of the APGA party is the primary cause of the smouldering passion of distrust and division in the party. As we write, many serious governorship aspirants in the APGA party had been relegated and screened out on flimsy excuses after spending huge resources on the campaign. Who is afraid of who? Why is APGA authority averse to impartial and fair screening exercise? Why is APGA authority playing the card that can lead to APGA extinction? What is wrong with black men? If you bring ant-infested firewood to your house, do not blame Lizards for the uninvited visit.
It seems the APGA party has not learnt anything from the mistake of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when they maliciously screened Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the party because of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s selfishness and blind Godfatherism. Such awful political miscalculation made Peoples Democratic Party become the ruling party in Edo State. APC regretted it, and it caused the political annihilation of Comrade Oshiomhole – a man once loved and admired by many Nigerians.
Just yesterday, skepticism was made real, the APGA National Chairman, Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye, and some members were allegedly sacked by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of APGA, and Chief Jude Okeke was allegedly made National Chairman of APGA. Added to that, the NEC of APGA purportedly suspended indefinitely from the party, Hon Chinedu Obidigwe, Chief Uchenna Okogbuo, Barr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, Barr. Ifeanyi Mbaeri, Hamman Buba Ghide, and Adamu Danjuma Musa, for gross misconduct and anti-party activities. The NEC of the APGA party also reversed the disqualification of Hon Chuma Umeoji, Hon Smart Nonso Okafor, Mr. Cater Dike Umeh, Chief Ozoka Ifeanyi, and Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo. All were cleared to contest APGA primaries.
Meanwhile, Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye has debunked his alleged removal, noting that he remains the chairman of APGA. There is no doubt that the crack on the APGA empire is widening day by day. Professor Soludo may not stand a chance on November 6th Anambra State governorship election if the political bickering is allowed to fatten in APGA. In the end, APGA will witness a massive decamping of members to other parties.