– They lack electoral value, can’t speak for party – FCC Jones
The crises of confidence, intrigues and power tussle that have almost torn the Imo State chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) to shreds, seem to have persisted, despite several adhoc remedial solutions applied by the National leadership of the party, that is accused by some political pundits of inadvertently initiating the conflict through some acts of omission or commission.
This came to the fore recently when the State Publicity Secretary of APC, FCC Jones Onwuasoanya, dissociated the state chapter of the party from the vote of confidence passed on Governor Hope Uzodinma, the Minister of State for Education, Hon Emeka Nwajiuba and Director General of NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, “for their sterling performances” by the Prince Eze Madumere led Imo APC stakeholders, after their meeting in Abuja.
FCC Jones Onwusoanya, in a release he signed and made available to the press, described the self-styled stakeholders as political loafers and fifth columnists who lack electoral value, as none of them was able to deliver his booth in any of the elections held in 2019. According to him, “Prince Eze Madumere, who spoke on behalf of the group, lacks such capacity to do so. “He did the same kind for the short-lived Emeka Ihedioha, PDP administration. He was always the first person to run to the media with congratulatory messages, whenever Ihedioha got victory in court, not minding that the APC where he now claims to be a stakeholder was in court, challenging INEC’s declaration of Ihedioha as Governor. He has, true to his nature, alongside his colleagues run back to Governor Hope Uzodinma after the Supreme Court has declared him Governor. What kind of stake is he holding? Maybe, the stake of stomach infrastructure”.
The release challenged the “former Deputy Governor and his group of APC to publish their booth results for all the elections conducted in 2019, for a scrutiny of their claim to being stakeholders”.
“As responsible and responsive members of the party, we are aware that our relevance as a political party is hinged on our acceptability by majority of the people, especially the electorate. Besides, as a ruling party, it is the responsibility of the Governor of the state, to earn the confidence of the people through good governance and transparent leadership. Hence, a situation where a group of individuals gathered at a location in Abuja, that is very far from the state to pass an unnecessary and watery vote of confidence on the Governor is ill advised and unacceptable”.
The release also noted that, “for the stakeholders to have resorted to passing vote of confidence on appointees of the President is the height of sycophancy, which portrays them as a group of hungry, rent seeking, crumbs picking emergency support groups that are motivated by pecuniary benefits and self aggrandizement”.
He also regretted that, Prince Madumere and his cohorts who approved the speech he read on their behalf, showcased a pathetic understanding of basic communication by referring to the judgement in respect of Suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018 and Motion No: FCT/HC/M/3025/2019, as basis for their ineffectual recognition of Barr Marcellinus Nlemigbo, stressing that Eze Madumere, would have made a better point, if he had mentioned the congress or court judgement that facilitated the emergence of Prince Nlemigbo as Chairman of the party or authorized the dissolution of Imo APC state exco and the appointment of the Nlemigbo as led exco.
Prior to the release issued by FCC Jones, on behalf of his faction of APC, former Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere accompanied by Senator Osita Izunaso, Imo APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Prince Marcellinus Nlemigbo, Princess Gloria Akobundu, Princess Miriam Onuoha, Hon Goodluck Nana Opiah, Hon Donatus Ozoemena, Hon Austin Chukwukere and former National Organizing Secretary; Chief Emma Ibediro, Chief Tony Chukwu, Chief Longers Anyanwu, Dr Uzoma Obiyo, George Eche, Chima Anozie, Prince Henry Okafor, Frank Ibezim, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Hon Dominic Obi, Chief Eze Okoro, Dr Charles Onuoha and Prince Ezennia Ogbuehi, as APC stakeholders, had passed a vote of confidence on Governor Hope Uzodinma in Abuja.
While reading the address, Prince Eze Madumere, said, “we are here today, to pass a vote of absolute confidence on Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, on the platform of APC, as leader of the party in the state, the only APC Governor in the South East and South/South. We are satisfied with the developmental agenda of the Governor, as stipulated in his 3Rs agenda (Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery). We urge all Imo citizens to key in and support the Governor in his bid to achieve the set agenda”.
“We also pass a vote of confidence on the Hon Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, and former Director General of NEPAP, Princess Gloria Akobundu, for their sterling performance, so far”.
“We also recognize the leadership of the Prince Marcellinus Nlemigbo led APC Caretaker Committee, which was constituted after the dissolution of the Imo State APC Executive Committee, local government and Ward Executive Committee by the National Working Committee (NWC) on 18th December, 2018. This was further supported by the recent court ruling on Suit No: FCT/HC/BW/CV/103/2018 and Motion No: FCT/HC/M/3025/2019 delivered on 16th July, 2020.
The former Deputy Governor advised “all our brothers and sisters who recently returned to the party after seeking electoral fortunes on the platforms of other political parties to queue behind the Nlemigbo led exco of the party”.
He also enjoined all aggrieved members of the party to withdraw all legal suits pending in various courts as resolved by the last NEC meeting and supported by President muhammadu Buhari. They pledged their support for any disciplinary measures the Nlemigbo led faction of the party “may decide to take against any breach of the party’s rules and regulations”.
Prince Madumere concluded by pledging the unalloyed support of his group for the Governor Uzodinma led administration, the Governor Mala Buni led National Caretaker Committee and the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government.
Responding to a question on the fate of different factions of APC in the state, the former Deputy Governor, stated that, “after the 2019 elections, Imo State APC resolved to be one, with Governor Hope Uzodinma, as leader”.
