I am proud of supporting APC governorship candidate, says Anyim
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim has doubled down on his support for the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate in Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru.
He was reacting to his suspension by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee over his decision to back Nwifuru instead of the party’s candidate for the election, Ifeanyi Ọdịi.
Background
Mr Anyim, a member of the PDP has not hidden his opposition to the next Governor coming from Ebonyi South senatorial zone where the incumbent Gov. David Umahi hails from.
Indeed stakeholders of the PDP had earlier in 2022 zoned the position to the Abakaliki block which comprises the Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi North zone.
But Mr Odii, who hails from Ebonyi South zone, backed by some NWC members hijacked the party structure and won the acrimonious primaries in the state.
Mr Anyim, who hails from same Ebonyi South with Umahi and Odii, a few days to the governorship election, endorsed Mr Nwifuru, who hails from Ebonyi North.
He said the endorsement was in keeping with the charter of equity which prescribed zoning and power rotation among all three zones.
Mr Nwifuru bouyed by the support of Anyim and many stakeholders across party divide, won the March 18 election with Mr Odii coming second.
The NWC of the party in a statement on Thursday, suspended Mr Anyim and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose for alleged anti-party.
Proud of backing Nwifuru
But Senator Anyim in a statement on Friday, said he was proud of the support he gave Mr Nwifuru.
He said the action of the NWC was to say the least, disappointing.
He advised the NWC to concern itself with how to undertake a thorough self-examination on why they performed so poorly in the 2023 elections rather than seek to further divide the party by shifting blames.
The former Senate President said :”It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to put up a bold face instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such colossal loss in the 2023 general elections, thereby dashing the hopes and expectations of party members and indeed Nigerians.
“It is clear that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many members, intentionally and proudly, worked against the party including members of the NWC”, he said.
The former Senate Presidenti said it is a display of innate cowardice for NWC to choose soft targets to suspend and fear those that daily demonize them.
“It is difficult to explain why the NWC is in a hurry to suspend leaders of the party without recourse to fair hearing, without which their action is null and void”.
Mr Anyim explained that all his efforts to warn the party on the implications of handing the party’s governorship ticket in Ebonyi to Mr Odii were ignored by the National Leadership of the party.
“In the case of Ebonyi State, the NWC imposed a candidate from the sitting Governor’s zone, contrary to the zoning formular in the state. Every effort to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears.
“On the day the party’s presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told Dr. Ayu that I was boycotting the rally because I cannot support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State.
“Dr. Ayu did nothing. He did not care even as I did not attend the Ebonyi rally”
“The NWC may wish to know that I am proud to have supported the APC Gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election because that conforms to the equitable formular in Ebonyi State.
” It is therefore my expectation that the NWC should reverse itself in the interest of the party”, he said.
