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Anambra 2025: Soludo will be the greatest loser, if… – Okorie, APGA founder
“How can a house divided against itself stand? The major challenge in winning his re-election is less than a year from now. The INEC timetable is November 8. If he wins, he enjoys a second term, if he doesn’t win because his house is divided, courtesy of himself, will he take APGA to Isuofia his village. APGA will remain and he’ll be the only APGA governor that will fail to do two terms.”
These were the exact words with which Chekwas Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), detailed his position on the recent development in the party he registered more than 22 years ago with regards to the decision of the Supreme Court on its authentic leadership.
Okorie, who told Whirlwindnews.com.ng, that he always felt fulfilled with the feat of being the founder of the party, right from the scratch to its final registration, explained that at every stage of its development, he would always do the best to ensure that the dream that propelled him to establish it did not die.
Having done so in the recent leadership tussle that engulfed the party, Okorie, who was staunchly behind the Edozie Njoku faction that eventually lost at the Supreme Court, explained that the best he could do at the moment, was to adopt a wait-and-see attitude, with regards to the next move of Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, seen as the major beneficiary as to his next decision and what he would do with the victory.
Okorie, accused Soludo of rebuffing initial moves at troubleshooting, adding that he had personally tried to talk to the governor on how the party could reconcile and move on as a united entity, but met a brick-wall because he (Soludo), believed that he had the powers to do as he wished with the party.
Hear him: “This hand of fellowship to reconcile has been extended approximately two years ago. But Soludo has always believed in his way of appropriating APGA to himself without reconciliation. He said to me personally, not by speculation, that he would use everything within his powers as a governor to make sure that Edozie Njoku did not become the Chairman of APGA.
“So, it can be said right now that he has succeeded. Now that he has succeeded, what next? That’s the question. He has succeeded in a fragmented APGA, he has succeeded to become the candidate of APGA for the next election, the same ticket he would have obtained without having to invest the much he had invested if only he had accepted our hand of fellowship, including my own hand of fellowship.
“He would have been assured of that candidature. Now, he has invested enormous amount of taxpayer’s money to get this judgement that made the Supreme Court reverse itself. Peter Obi did two terms and Obiano did two terms.
“Now he has succeeded in cornering APGA leadership to himself, it’s for him to succeed in convincing Anambra people by his own delivery and performance that he’s the man to be voted for in the next election for another four years. So, that is it.
“For me, I lose nothing, because I’m the founder of APGA and there is nothing like former founder. The history of Nigeria will record me as the founder of APGA even when I’m gone and there is no replacement for that. Awolowo has two parties he founded, Aminu Kano has two parties he founded and even Waziri Ibrahim, who founded NPP and GNPP.
“Here am I. I’m the fourth. I founded APGA and UNPP. There are only four Nigerians that founded two political parties in their lifetimes. Of all these four, only APGA is still alive and me, Chekwas, I’m still alive. For me, I lost nothing. But my real passion is for Igbo people to have a platform for engagement – political engagements with the rest of Nigeria. I’ll continue to pursue that until I’ve done my bit and gone. It’s Soludo that is on the spot now.”
Regarding the judgement of the apex court, Okorie who said he did not agree, stated: “The same Supreme Court that said it can’t remove Edozie Njoku because his removal is unjusticiable, turned around to say Edozie Njoku is no longer the Chairman. This is the Nigeria that we belong to. But I pity Soludo, I pity Soludo, because he is the greatest loser.
“APGA will outlive Chekwas, APGA will outlive him. So, he’s the greatest loser and not anyone else. For me, the Supreme Court is the last court. I disagree with their judgement in all its entirety, but I surrender to the finality of their judgement.”
In a quick riposte on Saturday, Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has cautioned Nigerians to be circumspect in the manner they react to the story of the death of a female student in his home in Ebonyi State, warning against the temptation of jumping to conclusion.
Conveying his position on the highly-volatile matter through Francis Nwaze, his spokesman, Umahi, former Governor of Ebonyi State and a key figure in the government of President Bola Tinubu, said caution was needed to enable the police conduct unfettered investigation into the matter.
It was his response to breaking of how one Mary Habila, a female physiotherapist reportedly died in his palatial home at Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on June 27, hours after arriving the day before.
Nwaze, a Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, specifically cautioned against speculations by “tale bearers,” while conveying the Minister’s shock over the matter and his eagerness for the authorities to get at the root of the matter through forensic investigations.
He wrote in the statement: “The attention of the Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has been drawn to a publication by a publication concerning the unfortunate passing of Miss Mary Habila in Uburu, Ebonyi State, alleging that the circumstances surrounding her death were shrouded in secrecy.
“The Honourable Minister received the news with profound shock and sadness and has since extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. For the avoidance of doubt, immediately the unfortunate incident occurred, appropriate emergency steps were taken. Medical personnel, including the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, were contacted without delay, while the Nigeria Police was promptly notified in accordance with the law.
“Following confirmation of Miss Habila’s passing, the Honourable Minister personally received her parents, conveyed his sincere condolences, and advised that an autopsy be conducted to scientifically establish the exact cause of death. At the time, however, the family declined the recommendation.
“It is important to clarify that Miss Mary Habila and Miss Anita Baski are employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years until the unfortunate passing of Miss Habila.
“Following the recent developments and in the interest of ensuring that the truth is established beyond doubt, the Honourable Minister has again reiterated his position that an autopsy must be conducted. He remains convinced that this is the most credible and responsible path to resolving all questions surrounding the unfortunate incident.
“We therefore urge the public to exercise restraint, refrain from speculation or premature conclusions, and allow the relevant authorities to carry out their responsibilities without interference. At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased, and we pray that God grants them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
The circumstances that led to the sudden death of Mary Habbila, a Nigerian female student died in the Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, home of Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has now thrown the entire household and environs into serious quandary.
SaharaReporters, which first broke the revealed that the incident, which happened since June 27 this year, has been shrouded in secrecy, with both the Ebonyi State Government and the state police command maintaining silence over the matter.
The incident, the report, added, took place barely a day after Habbila and another woman, Anita Baski, both from Kaduna State, were reportedly brought to the minister’s residence, triggering a police investigation, with the case transferred from the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki.
Habbila and Baski reportedly arrived at the minister’s residence on June 26 to “attend” to him, only for Habbila to be found dead inside the residence the following morning under circumstances investigators are still trying to establish.
Police sources were quoted by the paper as saying that Jonathan Bawado, a police officer who serves as Senator Umahi’s Personal Assistant and previously worked as his Aide-de-Camp (ADC) during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State, alerted medical personnel after Habbila was discovered unresponsive.
Subsequently, a doctor and an ambulance were dispatched to the residence, while Tobechukwu Godwin, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohaozara Police Division, was notified of the incident, the report said, adding that at the hospital Chihurumnanya Alo, a Professor and Consultant Public Health Physician, Infectious Diseases Specialist and Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Uburu, was also alerted about the incident.
The police who subsequently conveyed Habbila’s body to a mortuary, were said to have handed over the identification tag attached to Habbila’s to the Ebonyi State Police Command by the said DPO, as part of the ongoing investigation.
SaharaReporters, quoted a senior police officer, with knowledge of the case as saying: “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abakaliki,” but, however declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Unlike in other cases, security operatives in Nigeria have upped the ante by adding the arrest of perpetrators to the menu of rescue operations, with the announcement of the capture of eight terrorists who participated in the abduction of school teachers and students in Oyo State on May 15.
All the 46 pupils, students and teachers abducted by terrorists from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, regained their freedom on Friday, after about 56 days in captivity, with several others reportedly also neutralised during the operation.
Giving a clue of what transpired during the operation, Bayo Onanuga, who broke the story of the feat, said it was the outcome of sustained security operations, which also foiled the attempt by the abductors to secure the release of one of their captured leaders.
Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, using his X handle to give details about the operation, said: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies. In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.”
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed bandits attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, seizing dozens of pupils, students and teachers.
The abduction sparked nationwide outrage, with parents, labour unions, traditional rulers and civil society groups mounting sustained pressure on the authorities to secure the victims’ release.
The incident also triggered an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Oyo State over growing insecurity in schools.
President Bola Tinubu had condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations to rescue the captives and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The President subsequently dispatched a high-powered Federal Government delegation to the affected communities, approved the deployment of specialised rescue assets and authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security across Oyo State.
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