FEDERATION OF ANAMBRA YOUTHS (FAY)
Motto: Deepening Democracy through
Constructive Engagement.
Address: plot 7, Presidency Street, Gbasango, Kubwa, FCT.
Tel: 08056031187, 08033278763. E-Mail: fayanambra@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE
TONY NWOYE AND CO. SHOULD STOP DECEIVING NIGERIANS INTO BELIEVING THE
EXISTENCE OF FACTIONALIZED PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) IN ANAMBRA
STATE.
Once again, we find it necessary to comment on the recent so-called PDP
stakeholders meeting convened by Tony Nwoye faction of People’s
Democratic Party in Anambra State, where Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former board
of trustees Chairman of the Party-PDP, was credited to have said that
the era of godfather politics in Anambra State is gone, in apparent
reference to Andy Ubah leadership role in the state.
Before the Eagles square convention that produced Chief Vincent
Ogbulafor, it was reported that Anambra State and nine (9) other states
had parallel State Executives in the party. The report apparently
hoodwinked many Nigerians into believing the existence of factions in
PDP. We in FAY believe strongly that the existence of parallel
executives in these states was media creation. The reason behind our
thinking is that INEC stopped the first convention of PDP based on the
party’s inability to follow due process of the law as stipulated in the
electoral act and elsewhere in the conduct of its earlier congresses and
convention. Part of the reason given by INEC for their action was that
they [INEC] must supervise the conduct of the said congresses nation
wide. Based on this, FAY believes that there can never be parallel
executives, as the press reported because INEC cannot supervise double
primaries in Anambra State and else where. FAY believes that INEC should
be in good position to explain which PDP’s congress it supervised during the state
congress in Anambra. It is still our considered opinion that only Mr.
Bright Nebedum led PDP executive is the authentic leadership in Anambra
State, based on the fact that all the elected office holders in PDP, but
Senator Annie Okonkwo witnessed and endorsed the election as none of
these elected representatives has denied this position.
FAY condemns in strong term, the antics of the so called Tony Nwoye led
executives who said it has court order that stopped the Anambra
congress, but appeared in Eagle Square with his group as the authentic
executive of the party. The action of Nwoye led executive was a clear
case of anti-party activity because INEC duly endorsed and supervised
Anambra State congress from the ward level to State. At best, there is
no report from INEC suggesting otherwise position as regards the State
congress.
On Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s comment on godfathers in Anambra State, FAY wants
to believe that he was misquoted. However, if that is his position,
then, our position is: such comment is not benefiting of his statue as
an elder Statesman and founding father of PDP, where he is a recognized
leader and godfather. To start with, elder Ekwueme is reminded that he
had been a great beneficiary of the magnanimity of godfatherism in
Nigeria. For the record, in 1979, Chief M.N.Ugochukwu, Igwe of Umunze,
was the godfather of chief Ekwueme, and he presented Ekwueme to NPN as
his candidate for the position of Vice-President of Nigeria which was
then ceded to Southeast. This was possible because Ekwueme was Chief
Ugochukwu’s loyal son. Again in 1999, after Ekwueme’s courageous outing
as the leader of G34 that successfully challenged Abacha’s dictatorship,
the feat earned him a new statue as a godfather when G34 transformed to
PDP. It is on record that the first Secretary of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, earned that position as a result of Ekwueme’s
influence as a godfather in the party. In summery, Ekwueme is today
Okwesilieze’s godfather.
FAY strongly believes that Dr. Ekwueme’s comment on godfatherism in
Anambra State was in bad taste and clear indirect way of factionalizing
a united PDP in Anambra State. As a beneficiary of the influence of
godfather in the first instance, and a godfather in his own right, is
he[Ekwueme] trying to emulate Louis XV of France, who said, “after me
let France burn”.
On the budget impasse between Peter Obi and the State Assembly, FAY
believes and advice that Governor Peter Obi should dialogue with
legislators on the budget proposal. This we believe is in tandem with
democratic norms Nationwide. Only recently at the national level, the
National Assembly and the President of Nigeria, Umar Musa Yar’adua, had
cause to dialogue on the national budget; Governor Peter Obi should
emulate Mr. President on this. A situation where the legislators are
being threatened by Tony Nwoye as reported by Daily champion of 14th,
April 2008, is not acceptable to FAY.
Signed
Emeka Oreatoka
President General, Federation of Anambra Youths [FAY]
Obed Ukachukwu, Secretary, [FAY]