On Friday, members of the All Progressives Congress APC in Awka, the Anambra state capital totalling two hundred and fifty thousand protested to the Vice President Prof Yemi Osibanjo SAN, over what they described as marginalisation and abandonment of members by the national leadership of the party and the APC government in the area.
Speakers at the interactive roundtable with the VP, organised by the state chapter at Dora Akuyilli women development centre, theme; Repositioning APC Anambra state chapter in the Next level Era” in support of the protest include Sen Emma Anosike, Chief Forth Dike, National Youth leader South East, Olisa Emeka Onyeka, Hon Mrs Robbeca Udorji and gubernatorial candidate of the party Comrade Tony Nwoye who described the party in Anambra as a colossal failure
Nwoye lamented that that party members in the state out of frustration worked for other political parties during the last general election and candidates of the party could not participate actively in the last election
According to the address presented by the state Chairman of the party Mr Basil Ejidike, the members contended that most appointments and social security programs embarked upon by the Federal government were given to members of the opposition party, practically abandoning card-carrying members of the party.
“Your Excellency we cry for a reward system that recognizes hard work commitments and party loyalty.
Our members have not been part of the many social intervention schemes of the Federal government in this state.
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Hon Robecca Udorji and other strong supporters also criticized the appointment of a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA Chief Anayo Nnebe by the speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Gbajiamiamila as the special adviser political for the south-east even when he worked against the party in Anambra.
They called on the Vice President to compel the speaker to revert the appointment and appoint a loyal party member instead.
They, however, appealed to him to create a special intervention in all social intervention schemes of Federal government for Anambra state to take care of our party members at the period of intense mobilization and planning for the governorship election in the state come 2021.
They equally urged the Vice President to intervene with the assistance of Sen Chris Ngige and convene a dialogue session with leaders of the party in his office in Abuja as according to them that would be the only remedy to the problem of the party in the state.
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In his response at the occasion, the Vice President announced that the first step towards resolving the problems is to deliver an APC governor in Anambra state adding that the party in Anambra lacks unity among the leadership and stakeholders of the party and that as long as there is lack of unity in the party, the party cannot move forward.
Osibanjo further noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has a special love for Anambra state recalling that on two occasions he dad contested for the presidency of the country he chose late Chuba Okadigbo and Chief Edwin Umezoke as running mates
He also announced that in the next three months the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka would be the first University to have it’s own independent Powe plant in Nigeria.
Also speaking the duo of Sen Chris Ngige and the Chairman of the occasion Chief George Mughalu who represented the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole appealed for calm and patience, promising that all the grey areas would be resolved soon.
and then