...Ejidike begs for constant national secretariat intervention
BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has lamented the disunity of the South East in politics which led to five states controlled by four political parties saying that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is out to end it.
“Where is the unity there? Where is the cooperation there? Where is the political investment there? We have a company, Limited Liability, and many shareholders of almost equal shareholding. Who is the alpha and omega of the Limited Liability Company? None,” he said.
Speaking tough on the pronounced marginalization of the region during the stakeholders meeting of Anambra State chapter of the party at the party’s national secretariat, Abuja ahead of the forthcoming off cycle governorship election, the former governor of Kano State said, “So you can see that the marginalization starts at home due to lack of synergy, due to lack of cooperation. Luckily enough now, we have two states for APC out of five, but still we want to pinch more, we want to get more.
“First of all, let me comment on national politics, see where Southeast geopolitical zone has been placed.
“We always say Southeast geopolitical zone is duly marginalized in some political issues. But looking at the issue closely, looking at the arithmetic of politics in Nigeria, we have five states, like we have been saying.
“A lot of pressure is going on, we have more states from Southeast, that is a fact, a fact that must be admitted by everybody. But having five states controlled by four political parties, look at the arithmetic.”
The APC National Chairman noted that if not because the military came in 1983, “their son” Alex Ekwueme would have become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in NPN. He had good relationship outside the south east.
“If we get more, then the Southeast has a political investment where things will happen like they happened before.”
Ganduje disclosed that he was in politics even at that time and that the late former Vice President had a good relationship with his principal Shagari. There was a high confidence in him before the military came.
“If they didn’t come, surely that could have gone his way because Southeast had investment in the national politics.
“Apart from that, even the Speaker, House of Representatives at that time was also from the South East.
“At that time, nobody could say that the Southeast was marginalized. In fact, someone said, Ojukwu, came back home, in order to have complete reconciliation and that was possible. And that’s what took place. Next election, I think one of the states fell into NPN, in the Southeast.”
He disclosed further that APC will follow that formula as the blueprint to win the Anambra state governorship election if given a chance.
He recalled that one time they had a meeting similar to this, but not as highly attended like this. “I can remember in one of the hotels, many of you were there. Where I told your stakeholders, if we are to win a number of states in our party, all of you must be born again.
“Yes, all of you must be born again. And then, after a number of speeches, undertakings were made to build a strong synergy. We even launched in a few fronts, instantly.
“In order to keep the party alive, our intention was to let a lot of activities be taking place until this time and beyond.
That is how to keep the party alive.
“So, what we are saying, we need your cooperation. We, members of the National Working Committee, we are just catalysts. Catalysts are not part of the chemical reaction, but we are catalysts.
“We aid, we give an opening environment so that the election, the action will take proper shape. We are not fighting anybody among you. Only what we want is to have one of you that we can put forward. So that, you know it’s not easy to get the government from any incumbent. It requires a lot of political calculation. And cooperation is one of them.”
He called on the stakeholders to be on the same page as they move into other political calculations, “which we don’t need to talk about them now, because we have not reached the stage yet. So, please, we urge, we beg you. No litigation. No anti-party. No sitting on the fences. And no lukewarm attitude.
“Only what we require is your active participation. All of you will be gainers. All of you will be gainers if we have government in a number of states.
“You will be fixed to the national grid. As we have been saying, you are now a rural electrification, which is very weak link. So, help us to help you. You are all equal as far as we are concerned. You are all our children. All the aspirants.
“So, please, don’t have any stereotype on any of our members concerning this contest. We are all for you. Once one of you emerges, we beg you, please rally around him and become the foot soldiers, so that we win this election. We don’t want the Andy Uba episode,” he cautioned.
Earlier, APC Anambra State Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike recalled the various level of intervention in the state’s chapter of the party led by the National Chairman even during his tenure as Kano State governor.
Ejidike maintained that he remembered in 2019, when Ganduje single-handedly sponsored the APC candidates in Anambra State in 2019 and equally led a team to the State.
“That was under former Governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige, when we had a crisis in APC, you led a team of peace-makers to the States and you were able to effectively douse the situation.
“And today, we are here again on your invitation all aimed at making sure that APC in the states succeed this time around. I thank you so much.
“Of course, I lack words in thanking you. May the God Almighty continue to bless you. Let it be on record that this is the first time the members of APC and in Anambra states have been called by the National Executive of our party to discuss issues pertaining to election in the State.
“We are having such an invitation and of course, for me, this is a clear signal for something good, and of course, I can’t wait to be part of the end product of this meeting and other ones that will come up.
Restlessly, the National Chairman, I also want to seize the opportunity to hope that this meeting today will not just be an end in itself, but the beginning of other meetings between the APC and Anambra states,” he said.
