Posted by By CHIDI OBINECHIE & CHRISTIAN OCHIAMA on
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may have abandoned one of its own, Anambra State Governor, Dr Chris Ngige, who last Friday got his election nullified by the First Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may have abandoned one of its own, Anambra State Governor, Dr Chris Ngige, who last Friday got his election nullified by the First Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal.
Although, the governor had been expelled alongside his estranged godfather, Chief Chris Uba by the PDP, Ngige went to court and got an order restoring his membership.
Party officials over the weekend kept mum over the development, even as factional chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie, hinted of a possible reconciliation of the feuding groups within the party on August 18.
Several party officials and leaders contacted by Daily Sun declined to comment. These include the former Anambra State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Ulasi, and National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
The National Vice Chairman (South East), Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu, however, sued for peace while lamenting the loss of the state by the party.
Reacting to the development, former Cross River State Governor, Mr Clement Ebri, said the party only wanted to sacrifice Ngige because he is not in their good books, and warned others who are in the same boat with Ngige to expect their own persecution soon.
He advised the party to handle the matter cautiously so as not to push the people into taking the laws into their hands.
'Remember the 'penkelemesi" days. That is why I expect the government to be careful on how they handle the matter," he warned.
Speaking in the same vein, the boss of the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM, Evangelist Elliot Uko described the judgement and events in Anambra State since 2003, as 'politics, Nigerian style."
He ,however, advised all parties to the conflict to show maturity, so as not to create a Frankeinstein monster that will be difficult to handle.
He called for non-violence in the resolution of the conflict, regretting that the judgement came rather late.
The chancellor of the Eastern Mandate Union, a socio-political group, Chief Arthur Nwankwo also wants a relief from the protracted struggle for power in the state.
He, however, declined further comments.
Ebri, who spoke to Daily Sun on telephone from Calabar, described the 2003 elections as a 'sham', arguing that most of the sitting public officials are guilty of the same electoral offence which Ngige is being accused of.
He expressed lack of confidence in the tribunals since according to him, 'the evidences are not properly taken. We have seen more powerful evidences in other cases, even with that of the president, yet the judgements were different".
He said the country has been 'hijacked by a clique that found itself in power through foul means and will do everything to hang on to power."
Fearing that the unabated reign of power show and intimidation will extend to other elected public officials who do not agree with them, he said, 'they may extend it to Kalu and others, who don't agree with them. It is all a matter of abuse of office. They use the instrumentality of power to intimidate others. The governor has the constitutional rights to appeal. Let it be done the constitutional way. It happened in the case of the governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna."
He further described Ngige as a 'peoples' man" who has done so much in terms of reversing their fortunes, providing infrastructure, 'getting close to the people and being their governor in the real sense of the word."
He reminded the authorities that the elections were conducted on the same day under similar circumstances and deplored situations where different judgmental treatments were given to the candidates.
'The story of the 2003 elections will be told one day," Ebri affirmed.
He also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for its inability to perform well and objectively. He accused the body of being manipulated by the president whom he said has elevated malice and vindictiveness to statecraft and would be remembered for that.
Concluding, he said, 'this is the time for Nigerians to say no to arbitrariness.
The law and constitution of the country have been savagely subverted in his time as president. Nigerians must rise now and say no."
Elliot, would not want to be drawn into any controversy on the judgement. But he said, 'the Igbo youths are watching." Regretting that politicians are dragging the country behind in all spheres because of their selfishness and petty squabbles, he advised them to put their house in order.
In Awka, the Anambra State capital, government activities, maintained an even keel: The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on media matters, Mr Fred Chukwuelobe said everything was fine and it is 'business as usual."
Embattled Governor Ngige, who is the chairman of the South East governors, presided over the meeting last Friday, moments after the tribunal's judgement. Chukwuelobe told Daily Sun that 'all the governors were in attendance except the Ebonyi State governor, who was represented. He said the governor would be 'inspecting road and housing projects in Nkpor junction near Onitsha, as well as other parts of the state."
He said 'Dr Ngige remains the governor and would continue with his scheduled activities in recent capacity" until the appeal court decides otherwise.
Factional chairman of APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie also declared that it was too early to start celebrating over the tribunal's judgement. 'My attitude to the development is that phase one has ended, we are waiting for phase two, which is the outcome of the appeal filed by Governor Ngige."
'I am not in the least excited because, we have seen a judgement by the appeal tribunal in the case of Dr Christian Okeke versus Dr Jerry Ugokwe over the Idemili Federal Constituency being subverted."
According to him, 'the appeal tribunal ruled in favour of Dr Okeke but Ugokwe went to the ECOWAS Court against the constitution of the country."
Continuing, he said that 'the absurdity was given credence by Prof. Maurice Iwu, INEC chairman who on the advice of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Olujimi insisted on waiting for the ruling of the ECOWAS Court which has no jurisdiction in the matter. And Nigerians are keeping quiet over that rape of the federation constitution."
Okorie further explained that because of the unresolved internal problems within the party, 'Peter Obi may be the beneficiary of the tribunal's ruling, not APGA as a party."
He said that August 18 has been set aside to resolve the disputes at the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting of the party in Abuja. He disclosed that Peter Obi has been invited to that meeting, and expressed optimism that if the invitation was honoured, the party will carry him along. 'But if he gets carried away by the euphoria of the tribunal's judgement, then he will have himself to blame, let me put it on record that APGA as a party is not against Peter Obi becoming the governor of Anambra State."