APC Scammed Obi Onitsha- Monarchy
Says it never approved Ngige’s rally
The Onitsha monarchy has refuted claims by All Progressive Congress (APC) that it secured its approval to flag off its governorship campaign on October 8, same day the town hosted its Ofala festival.
Following the controversy generated by the clash of the rally and ofala, governorship candidate in Anambra State, Senator Chris Ngige had claimed that he secured the nod of Obi Nnaemeka Achebe to hold his rally.
However, in a statement captioned “Onitsha Monarchy didn’t approve APC Rally” the Ime Obi Onitsha or traditional council said Ngige never got their approval to hold his rally.
The council and the monarchy of Onitsha, said they don’t dabble into politics, but considered it ” necessary to correct the persistent misrepresentation of our highly principled and respected monarch.”
The council in the statement said all Obi Achebe got from Ngige was an SMS pleading to allow some APC governors and political associates witness the Ofala. The SMS was reportedly sent by Ngige’s emissary, one Hon. Okonkwo- Okom.
An unsuspecting Obi Achebe, said the statement, responded thus ““HE Ngige and the Governors are very welcome. To ensure proper protocol, advise the number of them coming and names, if possible. I’ll emerge at 2pm and all should be seated by then. Ofala Onitsha is a cultural event and not for politics. I look to seeing you there personally.”
However, continued the statement, “on realizing the real intent of APC’s request, His Majesty promptly informed Hon Okonkwo-Okom in no uncertain terms “that their intention was very manipulative and irreverent of the culture and tradition of his people and therefore unacceptable.
“Our monarch further told Hon Okonkwo-Okom that it would be best, in the circumstance, for the APC chieftains not to appear at the festival to avoid an explosion of the anger of his people”, it added.
The council bemoaned what It described as “the manipulative endeavour which the APC stalwarts in the state engaged in as a result of their privileged access to the traditional council of Onitsha.”
The Council noted that “in all the SMS exchanges, there was never any mention of a political rally. Thus, the claim by the party that approval for it was granted by our monarch or the palace is a mere ruse. No approval for political rally was sought and none was granted.”
The Council said that it is regrettable and traditionally unethical for Ngige to choose the date of the Ofala Festival as a day to flag off of his political campaign in Onitsha, and described the move as a deliberate “attempt to seek political mileage out of a painful disdain of Onitsha culture and tradition.”
The statement was signed by notable chiefs led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Chike Ofodile SAN, the Onowu Iyasele of Onitsha,
“Our people believe strongly in the plural democratic traditions of the country. Thus, we respect the constitutional rights of every political party to pursue its objectives. Indeed, our indigenes enjoy diverse political affiliations, including membership of the APC”, noted the council.
It however also observed that it was mischievous for Ngige to have exploited the warmth and hospitality of the Onitsha traditional council.
It prayed “for a free and fair election next month and would support and pay due allegiance to the next Governor of the State, as we have always done”.