The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Imo State Chapter, last Saturday April 4, 2015, formally and finally unanimously resolved to vote for Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha against the APGA gubernatorial candidate, Capt. Emma Ihenacho.
To demonstrate their unflinching support and solidarity for the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, thousands of APGA members and their leaders adorning PDP branded T-shirts and F-caps, had converged at the now renovated Orji primary school, Owerri from where they were to commence a road show in support of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha’s election. While the “mammoth crowd of APGA supporters for Emeka Ihedioha were still gathering at the primary school premises, a visibly angry Capt. Ihenacho who got wind of the plan was alleged to have unleashed his militant youths who invaded the place, beating, throwing pebbles at the crowd and eventually destroyed many of the hired vehicles which conveyed them, at the premises of Orji Primary School. A stupefied APGA candidate, Capt. Emma Ihenacho who felt humiliated and embarrassed by the action of the APGA members, had earlier stormed the State police head quarter, Owerri with a report that indicted the leaders of the political groups, of mobilizing for a road show to spite his candidacy. He accused the leaders of public incitement and anti party. Based on the report, the DPO swooped into action and invited Chief Uche Ejike and Prof. Francis N. Dike (SAN), leaders of the estranged APGA for what Ihenacho petitioned as playing anti-party activities. The duo was not even at the venue of the incident when the militants stormed and invaded the school premises destroying vehicles.
According to Prof. Francis Dike, they defended the allegations of anti-party activities by reminding the DPO that since it was not anti-party activity for APGA National leadership and Capt. Emma Ihenacho to adopt and vote massively for the presidential candidate of PDP, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan instead of a candidate of APGA, that they reserve similar right and privilege to go all out and adopt the candidacy of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha against Capt. Emma Ihenacho. They contended that democracy is all about freedom of choice. Chief Uche Ejike another leader of APGA while addressing the press, later said, Ihenacho would be worse than Okorocha in terms of gangsterism, violence and militancy but he seems to have forgotten that Imo people cannot be cowed by any unruly behaviour and that nothing can stop them from delivering Ihedioha. He boasted that they have the clout and the support base of APGA. The rally would have proven to Ihenacho that he does not have the loyalty and support of APGA members in Imo State. Just to stem the tide of the consuming shame, Capt. Ihenacho decided to clamp down on the road show using his sponsored political thugs. An eye witness account initially thought the vicious attacks came from APC youths who were bitter that the premises of Orji Primary School recently, upgraded and refurbished by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, masterminded the attacks. It was when Capt. Emma Ihenacho reported himself to the police complaining against APGA members supporting a PDP candidate that he exposed himself as Chief sponsor of political thuggery and vandalism.
Speaking further, Uche Ejike expressed conviction that Ihenacho would be defeated saying if he had any APGA member behind him, how come he could not even deliver to APGA a single member of the National Assembly last Saturday March 28, 2015.
He condemned the resort to barbarism, gangsterim and brigandage by Capt. Emma Ihenacho and challenged him to drop his ambition to support Emeka Ihedioha since it is obvious that the APGA National leadership had resolved to adopt Ihedioha, a decision that is not the making of Uche Ejike. Ihenacho was advised not to play spoiler game for Owerri Zone.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
