By Paul Nwosu
It was such an exhilarating sight beholding former political appointees of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) extraction holding a meeting that looked like a rally at Jessy Hotel Awka on Sunday, June 30. The turnout was massive, and all the gathered party faithfuls pledged unflinching loyalty and support to Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR. The landmark event has proved to cynics that APGA is intact and unbreakable.
The communique signed by Hon. Igboanugo Ernest Elochukwu, Chief Ibeneme Chika and Victor Ezeonwumelu Esq on behalf of “the conveners, former political appointees (APGANS)” and addressed to “all our members, supporters and people of goodwill in Anambra State” stated with emphasis that: “we hereby UNAMBIGUOUSLY, FREELY & UNCONDITIONALLY pass a VOTE OF CONFIDENCE on Mr. Governor to conclude the good works he started in the State: CONSEQUENTLY, WE HEREBY RESOLVE & DECLARE that we shall work for Mr. Governor’s re-election for a second term in office as our Leader under our great party – APGA.”
The declaration has led to weeping and gnashing of teeth within the other parties boasting that they would woo the former APGA appointees to work for them in the 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
The Awka declaration of the former political appointees clearly shows that more than the other Nigerian political parties, APGA is in fact a movement. It is structurally built from the grassroots to the topmost national level. The bottom-up structure is APGA’s greatest strength.
Starting from when it was registered in 2002, APGA has organically become a rallying point for progressive-minded politicians with the set goal of a discernible paradigm shift from the old order. APGA thus represents the necessary disruptive change that can transform Nigeria and her politics for good.
When the highly revered Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi, joined the party and became the presidential candidate, it leveraged the profile of the new party that had hit the ground running. The party became the destination of all the people in need of progress and the much coveted dividends of democracy.
It’s in the course of meeting the needs of the people that APGA within the 20 years of its existence became a movement, a way of political life, especially for Ndi-Anambra. The party has within this period of unstinting development captured the heart and soul of the people of Anambra State, the acclaimed Light of the Nation.
Successive APGA governments have continued to deliver quality dividends of democracy, and the elected legislators have continued to creditably acquit themselves of top flight representation in the National and State Assemblies. The APGA torchbearers are a class act in the discharge of their democratic duties and responsibilities.
In 2019, for instance, in addition to winning the governorship election of Anambra State for the second time, and majority of the seats in the State House of Assembly, APGA made inroads in other states such as Benue where it won three seats in the House of Representatives, Taraba State where it won two seats in House of Representatives, and Abia and Niger States where it won one Rep seat respectively. APGA also won State House of Assembly seats in Imo, Taraba, Benue and Bayelsa States.
The irrepressible party also clinched the Chairmanship seat of the fiercely contested Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
APGA in truth belongs to the people, serving veritably as “a brother’s keeper and sister’s defender.” The party is anchored on the foundational philosophy of “Onye aghana nwanne ya”, which translates to, “Let no one leave his/her sibling behind.”
The party is the acknowledged darling of the people who always rise up in praise-song anytime APGA is mentioned by restating: “Nke a bu nke anyi”, that is, “This is our own.” The people have ever since taken ownership of the party. The essence of APGA runs in the blood corpuscles of the populace.
APGA understands Ndi-Anambra and Ndi-Anambra understand APGA. More than being just a political party, APGA is the conscience of the people, a movement that the other parties cannot penetrate or break.
It is the uncommon leadership profile set in unstoppable motion by APGA that has provided unequalled infrastructural developments for Ndi-Anambra for more than 16 years. APGA has given our people a formidable sense of belonging. The party provides the shelter for our people to shoot to the very top. Under the watch of APGA, Anambra State beats all others in educational contests. Anambra State has the highest cut-off mark in admission into Unity Schools in Nigeria. With APGA in charge, Anambra leads while others follow.
APGA has taken the economy of Anambra State to the top five of the States in Nigeria. The party holds the key to the new and great opportunities for Ndi-Anambra. Governor Soludo has solidly ensured that what belongs to Ndi-Anambra ends up with Ndi-Anambra.
APGA remains the only hope for peace, equity and prosperity of Ndi-Igbo at large. The brothers’ keeper “Onye aghana nwanne ya” spirit of APGA runs deep in the Anambra DNA. No matter what happens, the former political appointees of APGA extraction will always cling to the APGA motif: “Nke a bu nke anyi!” This is our own!
Paul Nwosu is the Commissioner for Information, Anambra State.
