Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has lambasted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, for his uncomplimentary remarks against the party and its only Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State.
This is as the party has commended Gov. Alex Otti and the Abia State House of Assembly for repealing the law that recommended pensions for former Abia Governors and their Deputies.
Ganduje was quoted as saying that “re-electing APGA in Anambra will be a political dislocation,” a comment APGA dismissed as “a reckless outburst.”
National Vice Chairman of APGA, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, in a joint statement with the National Organising Secretary, Emmanuel Igbokwe, said the former Kano Governor had “no moral justification to criticise any Governor considering his woeful outing as Governor.”
APGA said that APC would not have lost Kano in the 2023 elections “if Ganduje had done well as Governor for eight years.”
The statement further said that”Ganduje should concern himself with the national embarrassment his party which is in charge of the centre is causing the country due to its mismanagement of the economy.”
APGA contended that “all the APC states in the South-East have the worst cases of insecurity compared to Anambra that is relatively peaceful owing to Gov. Soludo’s efforts and security proactive initiatives.”
The statement read in part: “APC National Chairman’s remark on the political fortunes of APGA is reckless. He should rather hide his face in shame for causing APC to lose Kano in 2023 due to his lackluster outing as Governor.
“He should first clear himself from the stain of the viral video that showed the form of somebody like him acting a script in a movie. The disgraceful memory of that absurdity is still fresh on the minds of Nigerians.
“What legacies did Ganduje live in Kano other political vendetta, victimisation and deposing of revered Emirs who did not share his jundiced views? Regrettably, his activities and ineptitude have set the most populous Northern state 20 years backwards. Anambra people do not need his unsolicited toxic political counsel to know what they need.”
APGA commended Governor Soludo for his performances which it said, had “transformed Anambra into a model state in Nigeria.”
The party said that Governor Soludo had within two years of his administration, posted incontrovertible achievements that had distinguished him as a hero.
“APGA is very proud of Professor Soludo who has changed the face of governance in Anambra State. With his achievements so far within two years he has superintendent the affairs of Anambra State, he has recorded undeniable achievements in every corner of the state. We are proud of him and urge him to sustain the tempo.”
On the repeal of the Abia ex-governors’ pension law, APGA hailed Governor Otti and the lawmakers for their courage to scrap the law which it described as anti-people.
According to the statement, the abolished law “only protected the selfish interests of the few that had made themselves so rich at the expense of the people.”
The statement said that “Abia’s resources should be deployed evenly to promote public interest and developments across all sectors and strata of society.”
APGA, however, urged the Governor not to renege in his campaign promise to clear the backlog of pension arrears of Abia retirees and salary arrears of workers which accumulated under the watch of his predecessors.
APGA which accused past administrations of neglecting Abia workers and pensioners, pleaded with Otti to renew their hope by clearing their salary and pension arrears as he promised.
The statement urged Governor Otti not to dash the hope of Abia pensioners, who now look forward to the Governor’s promise to pay them the accumulated arrears.
APGA which commended Otti for his efforts to develop the state especially his infrastructural strides, also urged him to clear the salary arrears of Abia workers which accumulated in the previous administrations.
On the controversy over the 24 hours power supply in Aba following the inauguration of Geometric Power Plant, APGA advised Otti to caution his media team to avoid plunging him into needless controversy.
APGA noted that “while the Governor’s role in facilitating the project is commendable, members of the public should be allowed to sing the praise of the Governor based on verifiable evidence.”
“We are all happy that at last the Geometric Power Plant Aba has come on board. We are also very hopeful that public power supply in Aba will improve in the days ahead. But for now, the blind man can only be told that there is no enough oil and not salt in the soup,” APGA said.
