ABUJA— EMORDI was on Monday in Abuja elected at an election, which was boycotted by the Governor Ngige and his loyalists. An attempt by the Zonal Financial Secretary, Mr Emeka Agbapuonwu to serve an Anambra Court order stopping the election was frustrated as he was allegedly “kidnapped” and held incommunicado throughout the election that was supervised by three Senators, John Azuta-Mbata, C.K. Awoyelu and Gbemisola Saraki-Fowora.
The party had taken steps to vacate the court order, which stalled the swearing in that would have taken place on Monday, by writing to the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN) for legal advice on the issue. Olujimi had written to the party on Wednesday that the order of Anambara Court was not binding on the event that took place in Abuja, which cleared the way for yesterday’s swearing in.
Chief Ogbeh, who spoke shortly after the swearing in of Emordi, a loyalist of the Governor’s estranged political godfather, Chief Chris Uba, at the party’s national secretariat directed the new State Chairman to return to Awka and take charge of the party machinery in the state.
He warned that he would be held responsible for whatever goes wrong henceforth in the party and assured him that he should not hesitate to approach the national secretariat if he has any problems in the administration of the party .
Stalwarts of the party in the state belonging to Chief Uba’s camp, namely the sacked Deputy Governor to Ngige, Dr. Okey Udeh, Mr. Chuma Nzeribe, Dr. Obinna Uzor and Uba himself could not conceal their excitement at the swearing in as Ogbeh declared that the party in the states should formulate policies for the state governors.
According to Ogbeh “You (Emordi) are the party’s Caucus Leader, not the Governor; whatever goes wrong, you will be held responsible. All meetings must hold at the party’s state secretariat, but you can rent spaces outside if there is space constraints at the secretariat.
“The party formulates policies for the executive. We have been speaking with the governors on the administration of Local Government funds. In a country where the economy has slumped, there are many poor people in the villages; so, you must try to create income-generating avenues for them.
“The party must help study the environment in Anambra state so that you can help the governor formulate policies. If we do this very well, there is nothing stopping our party from running (ruling) the country for a very long time. If you have any problems, we are here. If the governor is wrong, tell him so. Let us bring the crisis to an end”.
Ogbeh particularly tasked the new leadership to ensure that efforts are directed in the direction of reconstructing Anambra State that has produced great minds like Professor Dike, Prof. Ben Nwonwu, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Nwafor Orizu and so on.
He told the new Chairman that having being a bank managing director, chief accountant to the NTA and a management consultant, he would need only extra courage and patience to relate with the intrigues, rumours and libel that are features of politics. “You will be buffeted, but you must hold your own. If you apply your skill as a banker, you will excel”, he declared.
He apologized for the party leaders and officers who have been in Abuja since Sunday for the swearing in , which was initially stalled by a court order, explaining that the party’s success at clearing the legal hurdle made yesterday’s event possible.
Earlier in his acceptance speech, Chief Emordi promised to bring about hope and salvation to the party in the tate, saying, “I will ensure that we do not go back to our old ways. It is an onerous task that has been given to the State Executive Committee and me and I promise that we will not shirk our responsibility to move the party from the abyss that it is to an enviable height.
“I will try to bring all people together; we will run an all-inclusive party and refocus it towards 2007”. All members of the State Excutive committee were present at the swearing in.
Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) present there included the Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, National Secretary, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, National Vice Chairman (Southeast), Nze Fidelis Chukwu Ozichukwu, National Treasurer, Alhaji Umar Kareto, National Woman Leader, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Anenih, National Organising Secretary, Inuwa Labara, National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Venatius Ikem and National Youth Leader, Alhaji Bibi Farouk.
