Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, has debunked rumors of a rift between the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, and his predecessor and Minister of Works, David Umahi.
He stated this in an interview at the party’s head office in Abakaliki, capital of the state.
Emegha who spoke ahead of the kick-off of the party’s sensitisation tour across the 13 local government areas, said Nwifuru and Umahi were enjoying a good working relationship.
He explained that the essence of the sensitisation tour was to galvanise the party and ascertain their challenge.
“The essence is not far-fetched. One is to reawaken the spirit of our members. It is also essential to pay a visit to the home sector of our party to find out their challenges and look at the area where we can assist them as a party. It is not good after the campaign and election, we have not visited them again.”
He further explained that there was a need to replace party officials that have been elevated to other positions, even as he dismissed crises in local government areas.
“And again, if you have a child that is staying far away, it is important that you visit him from time to time. There are no issues in any local government area.
“We want to go and find out because, in some wards and LGAs, there are some officers who have been elevated to other positions like supervisory councillors, and management committee members. We also want to see how we can do a possible replacement.
“It is to the glory of God. The Governor must have viewed it from the angle that if they go to other states, there is a crisis in the party, but in Ebonyi State, there is no crisis.
“We know that managing human beings is very difficult. But it has been a team effort, not only me, and that might be why the governor endorsed me.
“How can there be a crisis between the governor and the minister of works? APC is a principled party, such that everybody knows where his work starts and ends. There is nothing like a problem between the two of them.
“The minister and the governor have a good working relationship. The governor and the minister are aware of this tour. They are the leaders of the party, and we are caretakers.”
Mr Emegha said the party is working hard to bring on board more members of opposition parties so that they will join hands with Governor or Nwifuru to move the state forward.
“On a daily basis, we keep going to the opposition to join the party. Very soon, we are going to do a programme in Ezza South where all the people who worked against APC in eight local government areas will come back. So there is going to be a heavy defection at the grassroots, where all the structures will join APC.
“I have visited Julius Ama, Ochiri Edda in Lagos, and I know by Easter, he is going to give me a response. I am appealing to all Eboyians who are into politics to come and join us. It is a big family. They should come and contribute their ideas.
“Thank God that the governor is doing much, but as one man, he cannot do it alone. He needs ideas from other people,” he said.
