The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodimma, and a host of APC stalwarts on Friday attended the APC South-East Colloquium taking place in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The colloquium themed, ‘De-marginalisation of South-East Zone and integration into national politics’, is hosted by the Senator, representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of the APC, Ganduje, said Anambra State was not making the progress it was expected to make because it was not connected to the central government.
Ganduje said, “We are most grateful to participate in this dialogue that affects the South-East region. Ndigbo are an ingredient of national integration because they are mostly travelled across the country.
“Anambra is a strategic state in the South-East, but it is not making the progress that a state is expected to make because it is not connected to the central government, and that is the missing link. It is not benefiting the state.
“From former governors; Peter Obi, Willie Obiano and now, Prof Chukwuma Soludo; governors are now using their connection with the central government to better their state. Why should Anambra State continue to live in isolation? What is the benefit for this? Even those who governed Anambra State quickly abandoned the party (All Progressives Grand Alliance) after governing the state. This is the height of selfishness.
“Anambra’s refusal to connect with the centre has denied the people of benefit and great infrastructure. Anambra has failed to transit and it is trapped. If you are not at the table, nobody will speak for you and that is the situation with Anambra since 1999. Anambra is the only state being ruled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the party has refused to grow.
Also speaking, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, advised the South-East region to key into the national integration of the APC.
Uzodimma explained that the colloquium was intended to stimulate the political party in the South-East and use it to better the region, adding that the time shall come when inventory would be taken.
“It is a thing of joy that the national leadership of the APC has acknowledged that the South-East is being marginalised. Having diagnosed this, the question is, who is this doctor that will prescribe the medicine to adopt? I think the national leader of the party is here to do that.
“We must identify national integration, national cohesion and national unity so that we can have a pan Nigerian project. The South-East is yearning for a united Nigeria where equity and justice is the yardstick and it means we must be in the room where decisions are taken.
“If we are committed to joining this programme and campaign for de-marginalisation, it means we must join the ruling political party. I think what we need is the process of precarious panacea to be part of the national consensus.
“Nigeria project today has no room for those who are in lamentation, it belongs to those who are pragmatic and they must adopt pragmatic approach, we must understand the political dynamism to navigate the terrain,” Uzodimma added.
When contacted for reactions on the development, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, simply said, “What do you expect him to say as Chairman of APC?”
Also, the Deputy Publicity of APGA in Anambra, Obinna Okey, said, “He (Ganduje) is trying to market his party to Ndi Anambra. But the thing is that Ndi Anambra cannot be deceived by any political gimmicks.
“The APC chairman is not in tandem with the massive infrastructural development taking place in Anambra under Soludo and APGA.”
