As the Vultures Gather to Inter APGA...

By Benchuks Nweke

It has been a season of bashing for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for reasons best known to a coalition of renegades and vultures of fortune who cannot wait for the dismemberment and internment of this once thriving movement - A.P.G.A.

It is yet another election season in Anambra, and once more the hawks have gathered with disparate agenda, but this time they seem to have finally found a chink in the party's armor and have banded together to force euthenasia on APGA.

For clarity, it behooves us to highlight the constituents of this band of renegades, angling for APGA's demise. First, are those who felt that the emergence of the Sir Victor Oye-led National Executive 2019 alienated them from the scheme of things and have been scheming to upturn the cart. The second are those who claim to have lost money to some individuals in their quest for political positions in 2019 and have chosen to operate as the aggrieved. The third, are political appointees/opportunists who are beneficiaries of the Obiano goodwill, but are in a haste to preserve their future by queuing behind a lackey for selfless reasons; and of course the Sen Andy Uba led All Progressives Congress (APC) machinery behind the scene working in cahoot with a renegade aspirant and a cabal in the Presidency who has been convinced that Anambra is ripe for the taking by hook or crook.

Unfortunately, these disparate forces are amassed and have been picketing APGA from all sides even as some of the principal officers underestimated the threats which may wipe out the only voice and political platform of the Igbos, and with it, the enviable legacy of Chief Willie Obiano.

For the avoidance of doubt, every change of guard creates new structures of leadership, especially at a time when the agenda was to push for a clean slate, but it is obvious that the Oye leadership has been unable to pacify the alienated. There has been anger since the allegation of fleecing aspirants of money other than the statutorily approved fees which is bad and should be condemned.The Imo State case of no primaries is also condemnable and should never happen again. But it must be clear that those who allegedly lost money to party officials were actually victims of greed and under the table dealings.The case of one Tony Gray Okpe, an aspirants for the senatorial elections in Imo State who has been running his mouth against APGA in a video is pathetic because he is culpable for trying to game the system. For others who claim to be aggrieved mainly in Anambra for losing out in the primaries should sheath their swords. It is on record that Governor Obiano accommodated most of them and have been paying their salaries, yet they keep shouting and working against the party. If the party is gone where will they get remedy?

There is nothing worth clarifying about the agenda of the opportunists who have appropriated and coalesced under the guise of "APGA First" mantra (not original to the group) and have been working with Hon Chuma Umeoji in the hope of sustaining their grip, post Obiano administration. To further their agenda, they have made strenuous effort to create a larger than life image of Hon Umeoji - an average Federal Legislator whose credentials in and out of the National Assembly does not lend excellence to warrant the quest to govern Anambra, at least not this time. Nonetheless, he tried and was disqualified like some others, but rather than sheathe his swords, he has provided a platform for external forces bent on foisting a week face on APGA and therefrom, it's death knell. I don't have anything personal against Umeoji, but does he and his co-travellers think we are blind to the extent of not seeing through the smokescreen?

As for former Sen Andy Ubah, who has sworn to stop Prof Chukwuma Soludo and APGA through his structure in INEC and the cabal in the Presidency, bent on foisting the Imo scenario on Anambra, they should know that Anambra is not Imo. Yes, Anambra is not Imo State. The deliberate attempt to destabilize a stable and progressive state which is on the verge of consolidation with tacit collaboration of renegades cannot stand. The schemings are quite obvious and the ploy is merely delaying the wish of the people, but care must be taken to avoid stoking unnecessary fire in Anambra and indeed, the South East.

Whereas those who allegedly parted with money have a right to go get their "money," it should not conduce to killing APGA. There is yet no legal basis to claim that the Oye leadership is illegal until proven by court of competent jurisdiction. Until then, all these shenanigans by fifth columnists masquerading as APGA faithful should stop forthwith. If not, history is waiting for all of you with clear verdict, befitting of saboteurs.