Disturbed by the crisis rocking the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia State, APC stalwart and Abia-born businesswoman, Dr. Mrs Lilian Chinasa Agbazue popularly known as Igolo Southeast, has waded into the internal wranglings which have left a festering divide between the Deputy Speaker of the House Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, and the Honorable Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The State’s party leader, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha have been reportedly embroiled in a cold war, prompting calls for a truce between the duo from various stakeholder-groups.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Agbazue, a former Member Federal Public Works, expressed concern over the internal rifts roiling the state chapter of the party.
Dr. Mrs Lilian Agbazue spoke on the backdrop of a recent publication in one of the Nigerian dailies in which a self-acclaimed group under the aegis of the APC Stakeholders Forum, called on rival camps within the Abia APC to sheath their swords.
She dismissed the group’s legitimacy and describe their appeals for reconciliation as phony and disingenuous.
She pointed out that the group’s purported attempt at reconciliation under the pretext of the APC Stakeholders Forum was a shady move to discredit the real Abia APC stakeholders and party bigwigs. She also maintained that it was a miscarriage of justice to sideline the hard work of the party’s principal stakeholders, who have contributed significantly to the party’s growth in the state.
According to her, these internal wranglings, and insincerity by unscrupulous elements within the party who are always bent on reaping where they did not sow accounts for the setbacks and election defeats the APC has recorded overtime in Abia State.
She warned that unless urgent steps were taken to resolve the crisis, it would be difficult for the party to win any election in the state.
Dr. Mrs. Lilian Agbazue said, “As a principal member of the APC, I am really concerned about the crisis in the Abia chapter of our party and the antics of insincere characters to make quick work of the misfortune for their own selfish agenda.
“The main issues bedeviling Abia APC are selfishness, pride, envy, disunity, strife and a situation where everyone wants to be a leader without making any sacrifice to bring the party together. We must learn to give credit to whom it is due. There are APC stalwarts and founding members who should be recognized if we are serious about fixing things in Abia APC and moving our great party forward.
“Prominent members such as: Dr Nyerere C Ayim, Sir Sam Nkire, HE Chris Akomas, Prince Paul Ikonne, Dr Chida Maduekwe, Sir Ikechi Emenike, Sen Chris Adighije, Sen Nkechi Nwogu, Hon Emeka Wogu, Hon Donatus Nwankpa, Rt Hon Stanley ohajuruka, Rt Hon Martin Azubuike, Sen Orji Uzor Kalu, Dr Sampson Uche Ogah, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, Rt Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and Other Principal stakeholders of the APC must be duly acknowleged and recognized,” she said.
She reaffirmed her support for the genuine concern of the party leaders, as well as commit to step in to ensure that “justice and equity will prevail in Abia APC.”
She implored all leaders and members to work toward the party’s progress and unity in the run-up to the 2027 elections, whilst also making use of the internal difference resolution mechanism provided by the party’s Constitution.