APC chieftain accuses national body of creating faction in Abia

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Out-going Caretaker Committee Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), in Abia State, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, has described as ‘joke of the century,’ the threat by the National Secretariat of the party to sanction members who conducted parallel congresses in the states.

Interacting with newsmen in Umuahia Monday at the state party secretariat, Nwankpa also accused the National Secretariat of creating faction in Abia APC, adding that some actions and activities of some elements in the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECC) of APC which, currently oversees the affairs of the party, if not checked, would sink the party.

He said that those who founded the party would not fold their hands and watch those he described as joiners to ruin APC.

Recall that Secretary of CECC, Senator Akpan Udoedehe, had prior to the commencement of the APC congresses in July warned that parallel congresses would not be tolerated, adding that only congresses conducted by congress committees inaugurated by the CECC would be recognised. He warned that those who conduct parallel congresses would be sanctioned.

Reiterating the threat last Sunday in a statement, Udoedehe said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports of so-called and purported ‘parallel’ congresses. To borrow the phrase of one of our esteemed governors, such ‘parallel’ congresses are mere naming ceremonies.

“The purported ‘parallel’ congresses are futile activities and very strange to the party, our constitution and the guidelines for the conduct of the state and other congresses.

“Only exercises conducted by duly inaugurated state congress committees are recognised by the party. The APC leadership will not hesitate to take adequate and lawful measures against any person or interest sabotaging the collective party’s interest and efforts to achieve peace and unity in our great party.”

Recall also that since the commencement of the APC congresses in July, the Congress Committees constituted by the CECC only monitored the ones conducted by the High Chief Emenike faction while the Donatus Nwankpa-led group went ahead to do their congresses

Reacting to the threat by the National Secretariat to sanction members who conducted parallel congresses, Nwankpa dismissed it as a joke of the century.

 “Somebody like me cannot be panicked by those that joined the party after me. I am a founding member. We started this party in 2013. Some of them are joiners, mid-streamers. In federal government colleges, mid-streamers don’t become Senior Prefects.

“If they threaten us, we threaten them. We have nothing to fear. You slap a child and tell the child not to cry! They must be joking and it is a joke of the century. We are all meeting, we are all discussing nationwide. If they want us to leave, we will never allow them sink this party.

“We will make this party to continue to produce the President, after President Muhammadu Buhari. Some of them there, we are going to throw them away any moment from now,” Nwankpa said.

Commenting on last Saturday’s State Congress, Nwankpa said he felt satisfied that it was successful and produced a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Acho Obioma and enjoined those aggrieved by the outcome to approach the courts.

Reacting to reports of parallel Congresses in Abia APC, Nwnakpa said: “Well, you know why I am not talking much. You cannot slap a child and tell him not to cry. The National Secretariat created faction in Abia and that we have all done it, while they are doing their own. You see, there is always judicial remedy to everything and at the end of the day, truth and justice must prevail. I have not taken over the position of the National Chairman of this party and, for that, he cannot take over the position of my office as the caretaker committee chairman.”

“This is a federation. In a federating unit, I enjoy my semi-autonomy, he will enjoy his super autonomy but that his super autonomy does not suspend my semi-autonomy. So long as I was the state chairman, and even until I hand over, I acted within the ambits of the constitution of the party, I acted within the ambits and responsibilities of my office, I acted within the law, I acted within the expectation of my party members,” he added.

“So, for me, what I am saying is that we have done our state congresses. If there are people who are aggrieved, the court is there. No constitution in Nigeria can oust the responsibility and powers of the judiciary. That is that,” he submitted.

On his experience as the Abia APC Chairman since 2015, Nwankpa who said he was not bothered by “the antics of pedestrian and scavenger politicians,” lamented that the society pays more attention to those that would deceive it.

“My experience has been that people romanticize over some mischief makers. My experience has been that our society finds it difficult to appreciate humane, humble, liberal and respectful human beings.

“Our society has given a lot of attention to rascality and banditry. Our society has given a lot of attention to deviants. Our society has given attention to people who can buy their way, who can tell lies,” he said.