Obi Replies Bianca Ojukwu

Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi decried yesterday the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a derailed party.

He was reacting to the expression of disappointment by Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafran warlord, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojokwu, following his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ex-governor, who noted that Mrs. Ojukwu’s comment must be taken seriously, because she is not a frivolous person, however, said APGA has turned to an empty shell without an inner core of shared values.

Reassuring his followers of his commitment to his cause and principles despite joining the PDP, Obi said he kept his promise to Ojukwu by finishing as an APGA governor and enthroning another APGA government.

He said: “Despite all overtures for me to leave APGA when I was the governor, I did not give in, but served out my term on APGA’s platform and handed over to an APGA governor.”

According to Obi, his reply to Bianca would be the last on his defection to enable him channel his time and energy with well-meaning Igbo for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the place of Ndigbo in the nation’s politics.

Referring to Ojukwu’s criticisms when he joined the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), instead of the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe-led Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), Obi said he has moved out of a party he considers “derailed” to a place where his contributions towards proper representation of the Igbo “will have the level of impact that will make Ikemba rejoice in his grave.”

He said: “Of all those who have spoken, and who continue to speak on the issue of my leaving APGA, only Bianca spoke with sincerity…I want to have it on record that Bianca was right when she reported my exchange with Ikemba when he called and asked whether I would leave APGA, after the incident in Abia State.

“I wish to reiterate that I am still loyal to our great leader, in terms of what serves the interests of our people and the country. Everyone knows that APGA is not what it used to be.

“My assurance to our great leader did not imply that I would be loyal to a platform that some people have resolved to turn into an empty shell without an inner core of shared values. I remain faithful to those values and principles our great leader asked me to stand for and defend.”

Obi noted that he had seen enough violation of what APGA stood for, as such, “I cannot continue to stay in a place, which has departed from the original cause and where clearly I was not wanted.”

The former governor said Mrs. Ojukwu would later be in a position to judge the propriety or otherwise of recent developments in the party, adding that time would judge “our actions accordingly.