*Says, Atuma started it all
The seeming internal squabbles in the All Progressive Congress, APC is over as the party is now united as a force to reckon with in Abia.
This situation was exposed as Abia APC faithful, friends and stakeholders led by Hon. Chidi Nwosu held a reception for the newly elected National Welfare Secretary of the party and former state party chairman of the party in Abia, Hon. Donatus Enyinnaya Nwankpa in Umuahia.
The founding chairman of the party in 2013, merger chairman, caretaker chairman and the immediate past chairman of the party, and now the National Welfare Secretary, Nwankpa who thanked many stakeholders in the part including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North, Rt. Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeocha, the federal Minister of state for Labour, Dr. Uche Ogah among others affirmed, “there is no factions or blocks in Abia APC”.
Hon. Nwankpa made special acknowledgment of Hon. Emeka Atuma who he said started the process of unification in the party in the state, the National chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, Nze Duru, Abia representative at the Nige Delta Development Commission, NDDC Eruba Dimgba, Anyim Nyerere, Comrade Chris Akomas, Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Enukwa, Hon. Acho Obioma, Prince Paul Ikonne, Chris Adighije, and all the South East members of the National Working Committee of the party, among others.
According to him, “I was not appointed but elected. I was not imposed by anybody. Abia APC is routed in collegiate leadership of consultation, mutual inclusiveness and respect. The party in Abia is not vested in any sole administrator.
“2023 is the last date APC will not win election in Abia, not by manipulation but by election as we are going to do a total re-engineering from the ward level.
“The party now is united, friendly, and all now brother’s keeper. Government House, Umuahia is a task that must be done”.
He assured that the party is going to support their only governorship candidate in the last general election in the state, High Chief Ikechi Emenike to recalim his mandate, adding that the party is united under Kingsley Onongbu, “hence we are winning our cases”.
He urged faithful not to sleep or give up as it is time to work, and called on them to “go and unite the party, and preach peace” as there is no more division in the party state.
He acknowledged the movers of the party in the country, including the President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma among others, stating that it is time for the south east to come together and work together, adding, “there is the need to change the narrative in the south east”.
Speaking on the status of the party in the state, Nwankpa said “APC in Abia State is yet to accept opposition status untill the courts decides. Otti remains the governor but the party refuses the state of opposition in Abia untill the court decides. There are no two governors in the state. It is only one, Otti”.
Earlier in his speech, the convener of the meeting, Hon. Chidi Nwosu said “It is in this plutora of penchant self-conviction and admiration that friends of Hon. Donatus Nwankpa have gathered to accord him this reception having emerged as the National Welfare Secretary.
“As ever we have remained undaunted in the support for the APC, our great party, with this development we shall double and increase our gear to ensure our party is strengthened. As grass-root oriented friends of the latest National Welfare Secretary we shall support the exparsion, development and progress of the party.
Others who spoke, including Hon. Offor Okirie (Abia North), Joshua Ogbonna (Abia Central), and Dimgba Gabriel Madumere, (Abia South), including a woman candidate in the last 2023 elections, Lady Nnennaya Ogbonna among others, extolled the virtues of Donatus Nwankpa as a charismatic party man and leader.
Hon. Chief Donatus Enyinnaya Chidi Nwankpa was elected to replace late Sir F.N. Nwosu former National Welfare Secretary of the party.
He was a Honourable Member who represented Osisioma Ngwa South State Constituency in the second and third Houses of Assembly between 1999 – 2007, former Minority Leader Abia State House of Assernbly, former Commissioner for Housing in Abia State, Adviser to the Governor, the Foundation State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress between 2014 and 2023, a member of the National Executive Committee NEC of the APC, and two times coordinating chairman and chairman of chairmen South East of Nigeria.
