Anambra: Ngige Accuses Uba of Violating Accord
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Charles Onyekamuo in Awka
The recent peace brokered by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State may have broken down as Governor Chris Ngige has accused his erstwhile godfather, Chief Chris Uba, and the state acting chairman of the party of violating the terms of the peace accord.
In a letter dated June 29 with reference number ANSG/GH/P/06/05 to the National Chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Ngige accused Uba, the acting state chairman, Barrister Ifeatu Obi Okoye of violating the terms of the peace by bringing in fictitious names into the delegate list that would elect a new chairman for the party.
The party had scheduled a delegate meeting of all PDP stakeholders to elect a new chairman, since Okoye hails from the same senatorial zone with the governor.
The new chairman of the party is expected to come from Anambra North.
Ngige's letter, submitted to the NWC meeting Wednesday in Abuja, read in part, "This letter Mr. Chairman, is intended to highlight my reaction to this travesty of the peace process in all respects especially with the anomalies observed in the said list."
Ngige added that Okoye included names of those who are no longer members of the party as delegates to the special congress. For instance, Ngige said that Azuka Okeke of Nnewi North LGA has his name filed by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the council elections.
Also, the governor complained that one Silver Abasilim from Idemili contested the last National Assembly elections on the platform of ANPP, just as he said Chinwe Onyenso was replaced with one Tessy Ezechukwu, a known APGA chieftain.
Ngige said that Ogugua Nwosu, the state financial secretary has his name replaced by one Ikem Nwabunike. Also, one Chuks Okoye fielded as legal adviser contested the last general election on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
In view of this, Ngige wrote to Ogbeh, "It is therefore evident from the reaction of Chief Ivy Obi Okoye that Chief Chris Uba and some of his followers are not desirous to bring peace in the state and that they have recklessly and brazenly disregarded the decision of the NWC and your entreaties for peace."
"They have also boasted aloud, of their monopoly of the police, hence could elect any chairman of their choice."
Ngige also accused the acting state chairman of unilateral decisions without adequate consultations.
In another letter to Obi Okoye, Ngige wrote, "You unilaterally convened a meeting for July 2, 2004 without due consultation with the PDP members in Government, i.e. the Hon. Speaker and his Deputy, the Deputy Governor etc. and of course myself. The Speaker is billed for parliamentary duties abroad, while I am already manifested to attend some important urgent state matters outside Anambra State, on that your chosen date."
Ngige therefore called for a postponement of the special delegate meeting as he will not attend. He called for a mutually accepted date and urged Okoye to use the list of delegates that was duly signed by the National Secretary of the party for the congress.
Ngige also called on Ogbeh and NWC to compel Obi Okoye, Uba and their supporters to give peace a chance in the state by complying with NWC directives in selecting the new chairman in line with PDP constitution.
Meanwhile, the PDP has suspended the special congress following a suit at an Ogidi High Court trying to restrain the party from holding the congress.
Yesterday at the "Cana House," Awka, Obi-Okoye told delegates to the congress that although they had come to appoint a substantive state chairman of the party in accordance with the provisions of article 18(4) of the PDP constitution and pursuant to the directive of the NWC of the party, the exercise could no longer hold because he had been served with certain court processes the previous day.
The court processes instituted at the Ogidi High Court in the state presided over by Justice Egbuna, he said, included a writ of summons challenging the composition of the State Executive Committee and two interlocutory applications for injuction aimed at restraining the special congress.
Obi-Okoye said although the court has not issued any injuction in the suit filed by the party's former financial secretary, Mr. Ogugua Nwosu, and the former state women leader, Princess Chinwe Onyesoh, who were contesting their exclusion from participating in the state executive meeting of the party, the party executive didn't want to be seen to be doing anything likely to ridicule democracy. The judge in his wisdom, Obi-Okoye said, consolidated the two motions and adjourned hearing to Tuesday next week.
Obi-Okoye, however, said the decision to put the congress on hold in the absence of a court order was after consultation with the party's national leadership.
"In this regard, I would wish to re-emphasise that no court order has been made nor served on me, restraining me from functioning in my office as the acting state chairman of the party, neither has any been made against the state secretary, Chief R.O.C. Okpalaoka. So we are still fully in charge of the party in Anambra State," he said.
However, Ngige's spokesman, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe, circulated a letter written by Mr. Vincent Ogbulafor, the PDP National Secretary on behalf of the party's NWC.
The letter entitled: "Postponement of the Congress to Elect a New Chairman," reads: "At its meeting of 30th June, 2004, the national working committee of our great party reviewed the impending congress for the election of a new state chairman for the party in Anambra State and resolved that the congress advertised to take place tomorrow (yesterday), 1st of July, 2004, should be postponed.
"This is to forestall mistakes and avoid violence. The postponement will enable the NWC resolve the issue of those qualified to participate and ensure a hitch-free exercise."
At the meeting of the NWC of the party in Abuja a forthnight ago, attended by Obi-Okoye, Ngige, Uba, impeached deputy governor, Dr. Okey Udeh, amongst others, the party dissolved the former state caretaker committee, and re-instated the state executive. The reinstated state chairman, Obi-Okoye, was also mandated to organise a special congress to appoint a substantive chairman for the party.
|
