• We’ve  seen good governance in Enugu – Ex-Speaker, Odo

THE major stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu North Senatorial Zone of Enugu state, have commended the state Governor Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for embarking on massive road infrastructure, building of smart green schools and health centres across the 260 wards in the state.

This is just as the group appealed to the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to extend federal appointments to members of the party from Enugu North Senatorial zone.

Addressing journalists in Nsukka after a stakeholders meeting of APC members from the zone, the leader of the group Brigadier-General J. O. J. Okoloagu (retd), praised Governor Mbah for building durable roads in several parts of the state, especially in Enugu North senatorial zone which includes Nsukka and its environs.

He said: “I make bold to state that the present government in Enugu state is doing well. I don’t care what anybody says. We had our son there as governor for eight years, and I couldn’t come home because the roads were not there. But today, the roads are there.

“I went to a market in Nsukka, and honestly I couldn’t believe I was in Nsukka because of the changes that had taken place there.

“We commend Governor Mbah, and ask him, please, not to change his attitude towards Nsukka people.”

The retired Brigadier-General who is also a member of the APC Board of Trustees(BoT), lamented that the leadership of the party in Enugu state had been hijacked by people he described as charlatans.

He pleaded with the national leadership of the party to redress the situation, saying if nothing is done in that regard, the party would perform woefully in future elections in the state.

“I make bold to say that when this party was formed, the so-called party chairman today Barrister Ugo Agballah, was not even a member of the party. He was first in PDP, and later defected to APGA. And when he came into APC, he started suspending people who built the party, and who were there before him. I won’t be surprised if tomorrow those who call themselves members of APC in Enugu state, suspend or expel a BoT member, forgetting that a BoT member is a life-time appointment,” said Okoloagu.

He called on the national leadership of the party to institute a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state prior to the 2027 general elections.

He reminded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the bulk of the votes he got in Enugu state during the last presidential election came from Enugu North senatorial zone, urging him to reward APC members from the zone with federal appointments.

Also, speaking to journalists, the former Speaker, Enugu state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, thanked Governor Mbah for extending the dividends of democracy to Enugu North senatorial zone.

“We strongly commend the governor of Enugu state for his giant strides especially in Enugu North senatorial zone. For us, we believe he exceeded our expectations, and we pray and urge him not to relent in the dividends of democracy he is giving the people of Enugu North.

“We’re not just doing politics for the sake of doing politics, rather we’re doing politics for the sake of occasioning good governance, and we have seen such good governance in Enugu state, in terms of infrastructure, and our people have benefited in one way or the other…

“There is the dualisation of Opi-Nsukka road, and suffice it to say that we have relatively a catchment advantage.

“The smart school system that is being constructed in every ward and the type C hospital in every ward engenders a comparative advantage for the Enugu North senatorial zone. While we have 260 wards in Enugu state, Enugu North alone has 102 wards. That means that we have 102 type C hospitals, and also 102 smart schools. The remaining two senatorial zones are sharing 158. That, of course, we commend Governor Mbah, and we believe that this is what actually APC would have done if they are in power, and even more,” said the ex-lawmaker.

He advised Barrister Ugo Agballah, to desist from parading himself as the state chairman of APC, saying that “the court has suspended him through an injunction,” and the “injunction has not been vacated.”

Odo, a lawyer and two tenure speaker, Enugu state House of Assembly, accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state, and the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji of spearheading the leadership crisis in Enugu APC.

“…Enugu state is not a colony of Imo state, and so Governor Uzodinma should leave Enugu state alone. He has actually spoiled the party in Enugu state.

“In my interview on December 29, I described Governor Uzodinma as somebody who is handling Enugu state as if he is a headmaster or a divisional police officer. The South-East is an egalitarian society founded on Republicanism. So, 10,000 Hope’s cannot impose wrong leadership on Enugu APC.”

The meeting was well-attended by chieftains of the party including the zonal chairman, Idoko Emmanuel, Barr Ejike Ugwu, Mr. Anayo Ugwu, and members of the state executive of the party.

Former Governor of Delta State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential running mate in the 2023 election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okowa confirmed the news of his defection to ARISE NEWS on Wednesday following the announcement of the current governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, who also defected from the PDP to the APC on Wednesday.

The development was disclosed by Senator James Manager after a six-hour meeting at Government House, Asaba.

“All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, all the local government chairmen and others, have agreed to move to the APC,” Manager stated. “We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniagwu Charles, officially confirmed the sweeping political shift, attributing the decision to the need for renewed direction and enhanced governance in the state.

“There is a need for us to adjust our drinking patterns. And in adjusting that drinking pattern, we needed to make a decision that would further help to cement the development in our state,” he said.

Aniagwu added that the move aimed to sustain progress in law, security, and welfare, likening the PDP to a “palm wine whose taste has changed,” necessitating a change in “drinking party”.

He further indicated that the defection was unanimously agreed upon by key PDP leaders and stakeholders in the state, with a formal public declaration expected on Monday.

“By the grace of God, on Monday next week, we will be able to make a very big statement confirming that we are moving into the APC,” he said.

The mass defection represents a dramatic realignment in Delta State’s political landscape and could significantly alter party dynamics in the broader South-South region, historically a PDP stronghold.

Okowa will be received on Monday by Vice President Kashim Shettima alongside Governor Oborevwori.