There is indication that with the emergence of the new Abia State APC Chairman Hon Chijioke Chukwu last week, the new state APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Uche Aguoru, and the appointment of Comrade Onyebuchi Ememanka as governor Alex Otti ‘s Director General, Abia State Bureau of Strategic Communication Team, the politics of opposition by the APC, and that of the ruling Labour Party of governor Otti, has become more pronounced, interesting and palpable.
Shortly after the emergence of Hon Chukwu as the state APC Chairman and Comrade Aguoru , as the Publicity Secretary last weekend, Comrade Ememanka quickly sent Hon Chukwu a kudos message on his emergence , noting that he ( Hon Chukwu) was used to opposition, having been the APC Minority /Opposition Leader in the last state house of assembly.
Comrade Ememanka had in his message to Hon Chukwu noted that by his moving from Leader of the Opposition in the State House of Assembly to becoming State Chairman of the state Opposition Party ( APC ), he made real progress.
His message to Hon Chukwu which carried the caption “Kudos : Abia APC And A Sincere Prayer For Their New State Chairman”, Comrade Ememanka described Hon Chukwu as the APC Abia Fit For Purpose Chairman, and as a good man.
He stated ” The APC, Abia State Chapter now has a new Chairman and in the true spirit of sportsmanship, I want to congratulate them for achieving this.
” Hon. Chijioke Chukwu is very well suited for the job, and I want to specially congratulate him, he is a good man”.
He told Chairman Chukwu ” may you have a long tenure as State Chairman of the opposition APC in Abia State. I understand that the tenure of office is 4 years in the first instance and another four, for a second tenure. I pray that you will enjoy those eight years as Opposition State Party Chairman.
” May you lead your party, as the opposition party, to the 2027 and 2031 elections. And when your tenure expires after 8 years, may you successfully hand over to another opposition State Chairman.
” I know that many people will be planning to remove you from office as Opposition Chairman, they won’t succeed. You shall live in good health and serve out your two tenures as Opposition Chairman, and by so doing, help develop our democracy, hence, after all, democracy is incomplete without opposition”.
But while reacting to Comrade Ememanka’s kudos to Hon Chukwu, Comrade Aguoru described it as sarcastic congratulatory remarks, stating that the new Abia State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, has responded to what he described as sarcastic congratulatory remarks, following his recent assumption of office as the party’s chairman in Abia State.
While Hon Chukwu in his reaction expressed appreciation for Comrade Ememanka’s ‘interpreted’ Kudos message, he maintained that the APC, under his leadership, would firmly play its role as an opposition party by holding the administration of Governor Alex Otti accountable.
His APC he stated, is committed to promoting transparency, due process, and accountability in governance, which he alleged, is lacking in the current ( governor Otti ) administration.
According to Hon Chukwu, the APC is well positioned to provide Abians with a credible alternative capable of delivering good governance anchored on transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness.
That under an APC-led government in the state, freedom of speech and the effective functioning of opposition parties would be guaranteed, stressing that such principles are essential elements of a democratic system.
The APC Chairman ( Chukwu ) also criticized Comrade Ememanka’s suggestion that the APC should wait until 2031 or beyond to challenge the current Otti administration, which he ( Chairman Chukwu) alleged the people of Abia have begun to question what he described as “lies and deception” by the Otti’s government.
According to the state APC Spokesman ( Comrade Aguoru ), the inconsistencies in the state government’s claims on projects, including the construction of over 200 smart schools at 54 billion naira, the establishment of non existent recreation and ICT centre, and procurement expenses of one vehicle at 150 billion naira, which he alleged could not be properly verified.
Appreciating Comrade Ememanka for felicitating Chairman Chukwu, Comrade Aguoru , who expressed confidence that the people of Abia would make their decision in the next electoral cycle in favour of the APC, added that the APC would remain determined to provide what he called a better governance alternative for Abia state.
BY GORDI UDEAJAH
