A fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East zone. The conflict centers around the nomination of individuals to the newly-created South East Development Commission (SEDC). Tensions between the camps of two major party figures, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and National Vice Chairman of the APC in the South East, Ijeomah Arodigbo, have now reached new heights.
Arodigbo has strongly opposed the list of nominees, accusing them of being personal aides to Kalu and claiming they are unqualified for their proposed roles. He has also made claims about the sponsorship of the SEDC bill, asserting that the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was behind it. His statements have sparked further divisions within the party, with many questioning his motives.
Arodigbo’s Claims Spark Fury
In several public statements, Arodigbo has voiced his dissatisfaction with the nomination list. He argues that many of the appointees are too closely linked to Kalu and that their qualifications are lacking. “The nominees are simply personal aides of the Deputy Speaker, not people who should hold such important positions,” he said in one of his media interactions.
He also raised eyebrows with his claims regarding the SEDC bill. According to Arodigbo, the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was the one who championed the bill, a view he has expressed repeatedly. This assertion has not gone unnoticed, as many party members have been quick to challenge it.
Onwu’s Strong Rebuttal
Elton Onwu, a prominent APC figure and former Zonal Anchor for the South East, has issued a strong rebuttal to Arodigbo’s accusations. In a statement released in Abuja, Onwu dismissed Arodigbo’s claims as misleading and false. He urged Arodigbo to correct the record before causing further harm to the party’s unity in the region.
Onwu specifically addressed Arodigbo’s comments about the qualifications of the nominees. “Emeka Wogu, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, holds a PhD and has served as a representative on the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission. He is more than qualified to chair the board of the SEDC,” Onwu explained.
He also took issue with Arodigbo’s suggestion that Stanley Ohajuruka, nominated as Executive Director of Finance, was unqualified. Onwu highlighted Ohajuruka’s impressive credentials, which include being a two-time former Speaker of a State House of Assembly and a former Acting Governor. “How else can Arodigbo display his crass ignorance?” Onwu stated.
Factual Errors and Suspicion
Onwu did not stop there. He also challenged Arodigbo’s claims regarding the stakeholders’ meeting where the nominees were chosen. Arodigbo had allegedly failed to mention Benjamin Kalu’s name during the meeting, a fact that Onwu found suspicious. But perhaps the most significant error, according to Onwu, was Arodigbo’s assertion that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah had sponsored the SEDC bill. Onwu was quick to correct this, stating that Ubah’s version of the bill had never progressed beyond the first reading in the Senate. The actual SEDC Bill, according to Onwu, was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Kalu and was eventually assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
The Nominee List: A Balanced Representation
Onwu further defended the composition of the nominees list, arguing that it fairly represented the five states of the South East. The list includes key figures such as Emeka Wogu (Abia), Mark C. Okoye (Anambra), and Toby Okechukwu (Enugu), among others. “The list reflects a diverse representation of the South East, with individuals from all five states of the region,” Onwu added.
He pointed to the inclusion of several prominent names, such as Sylvester Okonkwo, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs (Anambra), and Clifford Ogbede, Executive Director of Agriculture (Imo), as evidence that the list was carefully considered and not based on personal loyalty to Kalu.
Arodigbo’s Campaign of Calumny
Onwu made it clear that Arodigbo’s ongoing campaign against Kalu was not only unhelpful but also divisive for the party. He called for an end to the misinformation and urged Arodigbo to focus on supporting Kalu’s efforts rather than attacking him. “Instead of spreading misinformation and maligning Kalu’s character, Arodigbo should focus on supporting the young leader’s legislative efforts to bring democracy dividends to the South East,” Onwu said.
According to Onwu, Kalu’s leadership has already had a positive impact on APC’s support base in the region. “Deputy Speaker Kalu’s exceptional leadership and his legislative sagacity have already endeared many people to the APC in the South East,” he concluded. He expressed confidence that APC would not lose voters in the region due to Arodigbo’s baseless attacks.
