A Board of Trustee member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Maj. Gen. J.O.J Okoloagu (retired) has accused the Enugu state government of sponsoring Ben Nwoye to destabilize the party in the state.
Okoloagu alleged that Nwoye was not only romancing with the state government but also handed over the party structure to the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled government, a development that led to his removal as the state APC caretaker chairman.
According to the BOT member, the actions of the suspended chairman robbed the party of the opportunity to win, not even a councillorship position for the past seven years in Enugu state.
Okoloagu, who was also a founding member of APC, stated this on Monday at his Enugu residence while briefing newsmen on the purported suspension slammed against him.
He noted that he was shocked to read about the suspension on social media by the erstwhile party chairman and his cohorts, describing the purported suspension as an exercise in futility and handwork of those bent on killing the APC in Enugu state.
Okoloagu however said that he was not surprised because according to him, Nwoye was under the payroll of the state government, as attested on a video made by Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Mr. Jonathan Chukwuma and as such would do everything to satisfy his paymaster.
“I am one of the persons who said that if APC will win election in Enugu state, we have to dispense those who have held us down. That is it.
“Let the world know that Ben Nwoye is suspended and his suspension is upheld by APC national leadership.
“And the major reason of removing him, in a nutshell, is because he has not been working for the interest of APC but has been working for the interest of PDP in the state and we must not be shy about it”, he said.
The BOT member reminded Nwoye that all his actions and decisions became invalid from the day he was removed by the 42 members of the state executive and was ratified by the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
On the implication of the crisis in the state chapter of the party ahead of 2023, he said “there is a crisis in APC Enugu State because we want to take hold of our party to win an election. Watch and see what will happen in 2023 because we have now weeded out the moles in our midst.
so the implication is that we have discovered our bearing now and by 2023 we are going to take over the Enugu Lion Building.
“Enugu State is the most backward state in Igbo Land, not that they do not have money but it’s just that it is a cult, open up let the other people see.
“I don’t believe in local politics if you want to play local politics go to your village, but to come and tie down in our state doing cart race and achieving nothing is not the best”, Okoloagu added.
On the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Imo state, Okoloagu commended the president for the visit, which provided him an opportunity to meet and interact with stakeholders from southeast on challenges facing the region.
He advised President Buhari to ensure that issues and challenges highlighted during the interaction were addressed as a way of pacifying Ndigbo.
Source-newscenter