The former National Chairman of
the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the current National Chairman and
founder of United Progressive Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, has disputed claims
that the late Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was one of the
founding fathers of APGA.
According to him, Ojukwu joined
APGA six months after the registration of the party.
Chief Okorie in a statement
entitled, “I Am the Undisputed Founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance –
APGA” and made available to newsmen, in Abuja yesterday narrated how he founded
the party and brought in the former Biafran leader to join the party and become
its presidential candidate.
He said, “INEC announced the
registration of APGA, NDP and UNPP on Saturday 22nd June, 2002 and I received
the Certificate of Registration of APGA on Monday, 24th June 2002 in an
impressive ceremony at INEC Headquarters presided over by late Dr. Abel
Guobadia, the Honourable Chairman of INEC at the time.”
He further revealed that it was
about six months later that Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu was persuaded to dump the
defunct APP for the APGA.
He said, “On the 24th of December
2002, he (Ojukwu) agreed to become a member of APGA after I had consented to
propose him as our presidential candidate for the 2003 presidential election.
“This took place at his No 4
Isiuzo Street residence, in Independence Layout, Enugu, in the presence of
Justice Eze Ozobu (rtd), Dr Joe Nwaorgu, Prince Richard Ozobu, Chief H.B.C
Ogboko and Chief Onwuka Ukwa. On the 26th of December 2002, I proposed Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu
as our presidential candidate in a well-attended World Press Conference at the
Zodiac Hotel, Independence Layout Enugu.
“On the 10th of January, at the
Old Parade Ground, Garki, Abuja, I proudly raised the hands of Dim
Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Alhaji Sanni Bayero as our presidential and vice
presidential candidates respectively.”
Okorie blamed the distortion of
the history of APGA on the former national treasurer and national chairman of
the party, Chief Victor Umeh, who he accused of deliberate distortion of facts.
He insisted that when APGA was
formed Umeh was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“I wonder why any person with any
sense of proportion would want to ascribe the founding of APGA to Dim
Odumegwu-Ojukwu. The Eze Igbo Gburugburu I associated with for a long time
never for a moment laid claim to founding APGA. God knows that I genuinely and
loyally added appreciable value to Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s political profile. I
deserve nothing but gratitude,” he added.
He noted that “Section 18(1) of
APGA Constitution registered with INEC which was there before Umeh joined the
party states as follows. ‘The Founder of the party Chief Chekwas Okorie shall
hold the office of the national chairman of the party for an initial period of
four years and may hold the office for a second term of four years if he so
desires’. Umeh aided by sponsors from the Obasanjo Presidency, struck when I
was mid way in my first term of four (4) years.”
He expressed happiness that none
of the children of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu has been tempted to
ascribe founding APGA to their noble father, Late Dim Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Eze Igbo Gburugburu, a man of immeasurable integrity would
never desire to be dressed with borrowed robes.
“I am unable to come to terms
with the reasons why his wife Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is aware
of the veracity of the above narrative would want to join in denigrating the
image of the great leader by dressing her late husband in borrowed robes as if
he needed it to compliment his historic and noble accomplishments. This is an
obvious and regrettable disservice to the personality of the sage.
“The incontrovertible fact is
that I, Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie am the Founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance,
APGA 2002 and the United Progressive Party, UPP 2012. By this feat I proudly
join Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mallam Aminu Kano and Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, all of
blessed memory, as one of four Nigerians who founded two political parties each
in their life time”, he added.
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