By Dr Okolie S. Uchenna
The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Gen Mohammed Buhari (rtd) once used the above caption to describe the socio-political and economic circumstance of South-Easterners nay Ndigbo. This situation perhaps aptly captured the political circumstances of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA in the political firmament of the present.
The internment, desires and aspirations of the founders of APGA were neither a regional party let alone a local cum state party to be so ingloriously defined and characterized.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 22nd June 2002 with Chief Chekwas Okorie as the founder and pioneer National Chairman of the party. The fundamental objectives of APGA was to found a truly progressive National political party in character and outlook that will principally address, promote and protect the welfare and interests of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities. APGA held so much hope, promise and prospects in Nigeria’s democratic space from the onset.
The party’s first participation in a general election in Nigeria in 2003 was phenomenal in spite of the massive manipulation of the electoral process of that year by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party government. APGA came third out of 30 political parties that participated in that election. APGA’s exceptional performance saw the party forming government in Anambra State. It also won three Federal Constituency seats in Anambra, Imo and Bayelsa States as well as numerous States Assembly seats across the country. With this impressive outing, APGA was positioned and poised to consolidate its gains to record substantial victories in subsequent elections.
Again, to expedite the permeation and quick geographical spread of APGA across the length and breath of Nigeria was to leverage on statistical demographic structure of Nigeria, with more southern citizens especially south easterners who live and form the highest non indigenes population outside the indigenous aboriginal population.
These amongst numerous others, were part of the strength and selling points of APGA.
Unfortunately and regrettably too, this original internment of the founders and pioneer leaders of APGA was derailed. Subsequent leaders out of cluelessness or sheer incompetence lost focus of the nationalistic concepts of APGA only to focus on a particular privileged state (Anambra) to the exclusion and abandonment of the rest 35 states of the federation and Abuja.
Ironically, a once vibrant, dynamic and focused party, out of Political myopism, lost it all to nepotic Politics and clanishness. Today, how ashamedly and sadly is a once politically robburst and boisterous APGA now seen and regarded as a “DOT IN A CIRCLE”…a state party…No thanks to bad leadership.
In the days ahead, precisely June 22nd, APGA will be 21yrs. It is instructive to note that in the 21yrs life of APGA, the National Chairmanship and leadership of APGA has remained in this aphorism of “DOT IN A CIRCLE” Anambra State for 19yrs. The pioneer National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie’s regime only lasted for about 2yrs before he was booted out and replaced by Chief Victor Umeh (Anambra State) then Dr Victor Ike Oye (Anambra State)…what an unfortunate trajectory.
It took the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu less than 10yrs to capture the entire Southwest states and by extension Edo state. In 2013, the Political astuteness and sagacity of the ACN enabled them to leverage on this feat to form a political alliance with other Political parties with a sole motive of chasing away the PDP government and capturing power at the center. This was executed albeit seamlessly and successfully with the ACN emerging the dominant party. The dividends of that arrangements gave birth to the “Emilokan” concepts/mantra and saw power at center return to the Southwest after having them occupy the presidency from 1999-2007, then vice president from 2015-2023.
It should be noted that this deft and sagacious Political concept was conceptualized and developed by the founding fathers of APGA for implementation. The whole idea was to 1st awoken the political consciousness of the people of the south scattered all over the country especially the south-easterners, galvanize and rally them under a political umbrella for the purposes of engendering socio-political integration. Our founding fathers also intended to use the APGA Political platform to encircle the 5 south-eastern states for the purposes of negotiating power at the center. It is disheartening that this properly conceived ideas was aborted at birth leaving the ACN to grab it and run with it for implementation in the Southwest geo-political region. Today, the Southwest is the greatest beneficiaries of a political ideology, conceived and developed by APGA for the benefits of the South-East region but could not have it implemented in the region because of ethno-political jingoism. Little wonder, APGA has not been able to rise above one state (Anambra).\
With the 2023 APGA National Convention fast approaching, would the National leader of APGA, H/E Prof Chukwuma Soludo allow the principle of rotation and power shift be implemented as enshrined in APGA constitution? Or resort to Political arm-twist and the arbitrariness of executive power to further emasculate other organs of our dear party APGA to recapture, kidnap and retain in Anambra custody, the office of the National Chairman and at the same time keep in perpetuity in Anambra State, the position and office of the National leader by virtue of his position and status as the only APGA governor. Thus, giving credence to the ignoble mantra of “DOT IN A CIRCLE” which has dubbed APGA. This might be the last straw that will kill and bury APGA finally. To be fore warned, is to be fore armed. The Nigerian Political space is watching.
APGA 2023 convention beckons on Prof Chukwuma Soludo to prove his liberal leadership and democratic credentials.
Dr. Okolie S. Uchenna.. writes from ISELE-UKUU, Delta State
