APGA Will Remain Strong-Ogene, Anakwue

The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra state, in the House of Representatives, and deputy chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), chieftain Chief Chedrack Anakwue have dismissed fears of the party dying   following the defection on Tuesday of former Governor of Anambra State,  Peter Obi to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the party is still very much alive.

Going philosophical, however, Ogene, who was cornered by newsmen in Awka, the Anambra state capital yesterday, stated: “According to the famed writer, Shakespeare, “the world is a stage and we all are mere players. Former Governor Obi has played his part - admirably so - on the APGA stage and has decided to move on. But that does not mean that the show is over?”

According to him, since nature abhors vacuum, the natural sequence is for the Executive Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano to rise to the occasion and work in tandem with the party’s national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and steady the party’s ship for greater glory.

Said he: “Our party, APGA, has undergone several shock moments in its history. Remember, its’ founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie left amid a strenuous legal tango which lasted about eight years and the party survived. Then our Leader and personal symbol of our struggle as Ndigbo, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, transited and our people and party survived the tempest which followed. We shall yet survive the current storm”.

Describing APGA as a mass movement, which represents the indomitable will of the Igbo, Hon. Ogene said that the time has come for Governor Obiano to live the true essence of his traditional title, Akpokuedike which is loosely translated to mean the warrior who is beckoned upon during trying times), and ensure that instead of silencing the cock, its crow should rather resonate far beyond the boundaries of Anambra, into adjoining states of Enugu, Delta, Ebonyi, Abia Imo – and beyond.

On his part, Anakwue said that as long as APGA remains an Igbo party, it will never die.