…Abia youths blast Ikonne, Okafor over comments
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Sam Nkire has described the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu as an asset to any political party.
Reacting to opposition to Dr. Kalu’s entry to the APC, he said: “Orji Kalu is an important asset to any political party in Nigeria, be it APC, PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) or APGA (All ProgressivesGrand Alliance).”
Nkire described Kalu as a political heavy weight which any country, region or state could wish to have, having founded a political party that ranked third in Nigeria as well as coming third in a keenly contested presidential election in 2007.
Nkire who is both a member of the National Caucus of the APC and leader of the state caucus advised all those who oppose the entry of new members to borrow a leaf from the national leadership of the party.
He said old members should have nothing to fear, as according to him, “democracy remains a game of numbers which guarantees fairness and challenges impunity and domination.”
Nkire appealled to all those who wished to join APC anywhere in Nigeria, including Abia State, to live their dreams and ignore any opposition as the party is on a perpetual membership drive.
Meanwhile, the Abia Youth Movement (AYM), a coalition of youth groups, has berated, Paul Ikonne, for making derogatory utterances against Kalu.
Ikonne had attacked Kalu over his decision to pitch tent with the ruling party.
But Edward Ifeanyi, spokesperson of the group, said in a statement: “It is laughable that Ikonne who does not have the political wherewithal to command followership can make such a derogatory statement against the person of Dr. Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia State.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored Ikonne’s comments, but for the sake of the public, we have to set the records straight.
“There is no doubt in the capacity of the former governor, Kalu in mobilising and driving support for the APC beyond the South East.
“In this regard, we salute Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for acknowledging the fact that Kalu’s defection is a big plus not only to the APC but the South East in general. Okorocha charged the political class in Abia State to play the game by the rule and bury their differences for the sake of peace and unity.”
“We wish to advise Ikonne to face reality and join other APC faithful in leveraging on Kalu’s political machinery in advancing the cause of APC in the South East.”
In a similar development, a chieftain of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Abia State, James Eke, faulted comments credited to Emeka Okafor, former chairman of PPA, Abia State, that Dr. Kalu was expelled from PPA.
According to the PPA chieftain, Kalu voluntarily resigned as a member of PPA and was not expelled from the party.
He noted that Okafor was relieved of his position as chairman of PPA, Abia State