A factional Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Arc. Okelo Madukaife has slammed the Basil Ejidike led faction of the party for casting aspersions on the immediate past Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige.
Madukaife distanced the party from the utterances made against the former Anambra State Governor, former Senator and two-time Minister, by the spokesman of Ejidike faction, Mr. Iyke Oliobi.
According to him, Oliobi lacked the capacity to speak for Anambra APC, since no valid congress produced him as the Publicity Secretary.
The spokesmanof the Ejidike-led faction, had in a press statement, attributed what he called ‘the stunted growth’ of APC in Anambra State to the style of leadership of Sen.Ngige, adding that as a serving minister, he did not support the governorship candidates of the party in 2017 and 2021.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, titled, “When Internal Opposition Vindicates Ngige,” Madukaife said Oliobi referred to what he called the stunted growth of APC, but stopped short of illustrating his claim with facts and figures.
He noted that APC and its legacy parties grew phenomenally as Oliobi admitted, but the fortunes of the party were interfered with by those who, not valuing the key role of opposition in politics, streamed into the party without regard to its constitution, manifesto and code of ethics.
The factional Anambra APC spokesman said he would not be surprised if those Oliobi front for do not know the content of these documents but struggle to disparage those who authored them, alongside incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to give APC a direction.
The statement read in part; “If not campaigning or supporting anyone in any election can be an instrument of blackmail, then the guilt must also cover those seeking to be elected, stooping to conquer, by respectfully approaching those that can see them through, with clear definition of their vision and statement of protection of interests.
“But this certainly includes every election except 2021 election, in which the Supreme Court and all courts below it pronounced that APC had no governorship candidate. So the issue of supporting any candidate in 2021 never arose.
“I am not proud to discuss if APC has two factions or not. I could even oppose Ngige for saying that there are two factions because the only State Chairman known to APC in Anambra State as at today is Barr. Emeka Ibe, whose reinstatement as Anambra Chairman of APC by the Court of Appeal, remains unchallenged.
“So when Oliobi throws up the name Ejidike and relates same to what he calls ‘working committee’, he is simply confirming his agreement with the views expressed by Ngige about the existence of two factions. Is the head opposing what the heart agrees with?
Madukaife said he did not expect Oliobi and company to challenge Ngige’s assertion that those who made an influx to APC after the party won the presidential elections in 2015, are deliberately delegitimising the right of founding members to thrive and aspire.
Said Madukaife: “Ngige is a founder in APC. He has a large following. He won elections.
“So admitted one Iyke Oliobi who joined APC with Hon. Tony Nwoye in October 2015 and for a very long time remained his ally, arguably till date.
”But Oliobi does not speak for APC and has certainly not been elected in any congress
“The aborted Congress of January 2022, timeously halted by the courts even in its contempt of the judiciary produced one Chris Udeze, erstwhile State Treasurer.”
Madukaife recalled that at the Senate, Ngige attracted a minimum of four transformers per community to his Anambra Central Senatorial District and funded scholarship scheme for APC members’ children, in all 109 wards from 2011 to 2015.
Regarding political appointments, Madukaife said, “those who got appointments from 2016/2017 to 2021/2022 who are not Ngige family members, including Chima Okafor,E.C.J. Nwosu, George Moghalu, Emeka Ibe, Augustine Muomaife (without WASC), Bart Nwibe, Pat Anyadubalu, Omo Okeke, Paul Chukwuma,Ify Nsofor, Rev Uche Michael Ibeabuchi, Prof E Okafor, Obiora Igwedibia, Chukwuma Agufugo, Nkechi Nnoli, among others in Anambra State and scores from Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and Enugu States.
“This is without prejudice to any member of Ngige family,being committed to ,and contributing to APC, being offered appointment, when qualified.”
