From Mokwugwo Solomon, Awka
The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has told the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, to tender unreserved apology to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, over an alleged gross representation.
A statement issued by Okelo Madukaife, Anambra State Publicity Secretary of the party, said that Njaka, in a recent interview in the Vanguard Newspaper, claimed that Ngige was not supporting the party in the 2023 presidential election; an assertion the state chapter of the party viewed as an affront on Ngige, who is the leader of the party in Anambra.
The statement reads: “The partisan political side-issues experientially raised by Sen (Dr) Chris Ngige, Anambra State leader of APC, in an interview on Channels Television , otherwise focused on the issues around the Appeal Court Order to end ASUU strike, is a patriotic advice to the National Working Committee (NWC), National Caucus and National Board of Trustees of our great party; not an invitation to be bashed by those who do not share his historical profile in the making of APC.
“When Senator Ngige said that ‘we have issues, but PDP has double;’ ”ours is just a family matter,’ then went ahead to say, ”if these issues are addressed, our party will sweep polls,’ he pointed in the direction of hope – in a manner that should make perceptive spokesmen of political parties avoid being hasty to hit the airwaves with hollow pseudo-orders.
“Ngige’s advice called for thoughtful reflection and internal dialogue, which no political party seeking to retain national power needs to be told.
“Does anyone need to remind another that after primaries, there must be reconciliations; moreso where there already were issues pre-dating the primaries, which denied some chapters participation? How many presidential aspirants are campaigning openly for the presidential candidate of APC at the moment? Is Alhaji Ajaka campaigning openly for the presidential candidate? How many members of the NWC are doing so?
“We respectfully remind Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka that his needless negative reaction, reading bad meaning into plain submissions, as reported by Vanguard Newspapers; possibly his first public statement since selection, is a tirade on our leader who, the last we checked, belonged to all organs of the party, and is therefore reachable by multiple avenues.
“We sadly note that the vitriolic reaction ignored the feats scored in the nucleus of the interview- actions by Buhari government on academic disruption by academic politicians, and the prospects of complete university autonomy by May 29, 2023, in favour of inexplicable tantrums. This is unacceptable!
“We, therefore, demand an unreserved apology from Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, and make a considered request of swift actions from the NWC, National Executive Committee (NEC) and all other organs connected with addressing the pockets of disquiet in our great party, ahead of an election in which Sen. Ngige says authoritatively that ‘we shall sweep polls.”
