President Buhari SE support group: Onu/Okorocha in leadership war

Controversies and backlashes has generated among Ucha’s faction of the Ebonyi state Working Committee of APC led by Dr Sylvester Nwambe and Ogbonna Onu faction led by Pastor Eze Nwachukwu over the August 4 South East for Buhari (SEB), campaign rally which Onu’s group  has floated a new splinter campaign platform different from the South East for Buhari (SEB), describing the campaign movement headed by the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, as a pressure group and inferior to the new group.

The state Publicity Secretary of the faction loyal to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Mr Chika Nwoba claimed that his group was slated to hold a mega rally in Abakaliki on August 4, which was why SEB had to postpone its rally to August 11.

The rally, according to a statement issued by Nwoba, would attract President Muhammad Buhari; APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomole and his NWC, Onu; former Abia state governor, Orji- Uzor Kalu; Oil magnate, Samson Uche Ogah, Senator Hope Uzodimma, Former Ebonyi governor, Martin Elechi and other stakeholders from the Southeast zone.

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Other APC personalities like Senator Julius Ucha, National Coordinator of Initiatives for Demonstrating Change, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, Senator Azu Agboti dissociated themselves from the group, describing the rally as misleading, mischievous and an attempt to sabotage the fortunes of APC in the state.

In his statement, the Director of Media and Publicity, SEB, Dr Steve Egbo noted that though President Buhari is a leader everyone respects and follows and people are free to express their support in various forms and guises, it was important to warn such groups not to engage in deliberate misinformation of the public or in acts that portray them as enemies to the general interest.

He noted that the period now was not for impetuosity and grandstanding as the business of re-electing the President had commenced and those
who wish to constitute clogs in the wheels of progress should desist from further mischief.

Egbo said: “SEB is an open movement aimed at mobilising the Igbo nation along the path of reason. All these renegade groups should eschew the spirit of bitterness and rancour and join the SEB efforts. They can be sure they would be adequately accommodated.”

“The general public and and all parties concerned are by this notice advised to discount other information or misinformation purporting an
APC rally anywhere in Ebonyi state on August 4th because such a rally does not have the approval of the National Chairman or the major
stakeholders”.

In another statement signed by Nwambe, he explained that the purported rally as announced by the publicity secretary of Onu’s faction in the state where they described SEB as a pressure group shows that the
Minister and his cohort have completely annihilated themselves from the activities and directions of the APC.

Nwambe accused the group as sabotaging the efforts being made by party stakeholders in the state in advancing the fortunes of the party
towards its victory in 2019 general elections.

He alleged that the Onu’s group had opposed the emergence of Oshiomole as the national chairman and would do anything to destabilize the
party to score cheap political points.

“We, therefore, call on all our members and supporters of APC in Ebonyi state to disregard the announcement as stakeholders mentioned as part of those that will grace the purported rally on August 4,  were not consulted and are not aware of the said rally”.

“The maiden rally was held in Imo state which was a carnival of who-is-who in APC including the representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, governors, members of the Federal Executive council, the national working committee led by our national chairman, Adams Oshiomole”.

“The purported rally as announced by the publicity secretary of the group loyal to the minister of Science and Technology. Dr Ogbonnaya
Onu, one Chika Nwoba where he described SEB as a pressure group shows that the minister and his cohort have completely annihilated themselves from the activities and directions of our great party”.

“This development also shows that Onu’s group is seriously determined to frustrate and sabotage all efforts by leaders and stakeholders of our party in the southeast to advance the victory for the party in 2019 general elections”, Nwambe said.

The chairman, therefore, called on APC  members to discountenance the purported rally of the group as it was not authorized by the party
leadership in the national, zone or the state, adding that no member of APC in Ebonyi state should honour the invitation.