The Member Representing Umuahia East Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Chukwudi Apugo has tackled a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftain Affairs ,Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, over the ultimatum issued against two ranking members of the PDP in the state, describing the threat as “laughable”.
Recall that Chief Ogbonnaya had in statement on Friday September 23, 2022 given the PDP Abia North Senatorial candidate, Sen MOA Ohuabunwa as well as the PDP candidate for Bende Federal Constituency election in the forth coming election, 48 hours to retract an alleged anti-party statement accredited to them or face sanction.
National Ambassador gathered that the duo of Ohuabunwa and Ukeje were allegedly quoted to have said that they would neither support nor campaign for the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,a statement which did not go down well with the Ex Commissioner.
Ogbonnaya, also kicked against the association between Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, describing their friendship as inimical to the progress of Abia State.
Reacting to the statement, in Umuahia on Sunday,Chief Apugo, who warned Ogbonnaya over unguarded utterances against the Governor, wondered his position and platform in Abia PDP to warrant his spurious claims of mobilizing party members to vote against the duo of Ohuabunwa and Ukeje and whose interest he was trying to protect.
He said: “it’s laughable that the former Commissioner should issue threats of mobilizing PDP and Abia voters against Ohuabunwa and Ukaeja who are ranking members of the party in the state over an alleged anti-party acactivities.
“Ohuabunwa is a member of PDP National Executive Council (NEC), who is Chief Charles Ogbonnaya? Is he the state PDP Chairman, is he a BOT member? I don’t know his position in Abia PDP or the basis to warrant such statement against well known leaders in Abia PDP.
“It is also funny that he is calling out Gov. Ikpeazu in the media over friendship with Gov Wike. There is a saying in our place that they can show you your brother but they can’t show you your friend. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has the right to choose his friends.
“I want to state it loud and clear that if there is anyone indulging in anti-party activities it is Chief Charles Ogbonnaya. He has openly said that he will not support our governorship candidate Prof Uche Ikonne and other candidates of our party. Right now, he’s campaigning for the candidate of another party.
“I don’t know if he’s still a member of the the PDP since the candidate of another political party running for a state Assembly seat is even living in his house.
“Chief Charles Ogbonnaya’s claims that he is the campaign coordinator of Atiku Abubakar, i know he was former but as for today, i don’t know. I have seen the presidential councils NEC and i didn’t see his name so i don’t know where he falls in”.
Apugo therefore called on the party chairman in Abia State,Chief Alwell Asiforo Okere to rise to his responsibility and sanction Ogbonnaya and his cohorts for making unnecessary utterances against the governor and members of the state PDP.
Apugo, who advised the presidential candidate of the party to collaborate with Governor Ikpeazu,in order to win the presidential, governorship, national and state Assembly elections in the state and “not the self acclaimed Coordinator”.
“I want to use this medium to advised the our party’s presidential candidate,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to reach out to Wike and other party faithfuls across the nation inorder for the party to resolve all her internal differences ahead of the commencement of the election campaigns.
“Wike is a force to reckon with, he is not someone you can wish away”.
Apugo therefore called on the party chairman in Abia State Alwell Asifuro, to rise to his responsibility sanction Ogbonnaya and his cohorts for making unnecessary utterances against the governor and members of the state PDP.
