Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Barr Eugene Odo, has lambasted the State APC Chairman Ugochukwu Agballah over comments he made during a recent campaign tour of Opi, in Nsukka Local Government Area.
The party chairman reportedly accused Nsukka APC leaders including the former Speaker of working against the party.
Agballah claimed that APC leaders in Enugu North Senatorial zone were working for the ruling Peoples Democratuv Party (PDP) “as agents of PDP in APC.”
But reacting to the APC chairman’s claims, Odo described it as baseless and unfounded.
He said: “Before Agballah came into the APC, the party had become a beautiful bride.
According to him, almost everybody in the party was struggling for membership; of course, the membership was very robust with high quality people.
He said: “Each time we want to have meeting at Nza Street you see the likes of Ken Nnamani, Gbazuagu, Sullivan, IK Ugwuegde, Ayogu Eze, JOJ Okoloagu, Bath Ugwoke almost every stakeholder in APC.
“And we decided to share positions, so that these positions will make every part of the state to have a sense of belonging in what is acruable to the party.”
According to Odo, the party zoned both the Governoship and State party Secretary positions to the Enugu East Senatorial zone.
“To Enugu West we zoned the chairmanship of the party and then Speaker of the House of Assembly, if we win election.
“To Enugu North Senatorial zone we zoned whatever national office of the party that will be coming to the state
“We also zoned the Deputy Governorship candidate to the Enugu North Senatorial zone.
“But since Ugo Agballa came in, it’s quite unfortunate that he couldn’t harness what he met on the ground,” Odo said.
He berated Agballah for insulting APC leaders in the state including Ken Nnamani, Sullivan Chime, JOJ Okoloagu and anybody he cared to insult.
“So, we felt that as party people we should tag on until we realised there is no seriousness in what he is doing as party chairman.
“As I speak to you the National office that was zoned to Nsukka, when it eventually came was given to Emma Enukwu who is from Enugu West Senatorial zone and the same Local Government with Ugo Agballah.
“So, I wonder the kind of conscience and shamelessness that will drag Ugo Agballah to any part of Nsukka zone to campaign,” he said.
The former speaker accused the state APC chairman of working alone.
“He cannot mention one person he is working with. He is parading a Deputy Governorship candidate whom he is more or less deceiving.
“What kind of Chairman will run an election where the governor and deputy will come from the same senatorial zone as it is presently in INEC.
“What kind of Chairman will run an election without manifesto for the Governoship candidate and no campaign Council
“You have a DG who is from the same Constituency with the governor. There is no single Campaign Council perhaps the DG is the sole administrator,” he said.
He said that Agballah and his cohorts superintended the denial of Enugu North its rightful position that was written, signed under agreement.
“As if it wasn’t enough, he had the temerity to come to the same Enugu North to insult the leaders, just because they left him.”
