Enugu State Is Most Backward In South East, Ugwuanyi’s Govt Behind APC Crisis – Major Gen. Okoloagu Says

A member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Maj. Gen. J.O.J Okoloagu (Rtd), 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 Committee 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 and handiwork 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.

While stressing that the suspension of Ben Nwoye as Caretaker Chairman had been affirmed by the national leadership, the retired Military officer added that the APC would not harbour or accommodate mole in its fold.

According to him, the party will not witness any meaningful progress, if Nwoye is allowed to conduct the upcoming State Congress of the party.

“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.The executives on their own swore an oath and removed him (Nwoye) and informed us and we said okay.”

“To my greatest shock, he did not find out why he was removed and he started installing his structures.” 
“What kind of money does Ben Nwoye has to run election in 260 Wards and installed them with all his money?” 

“People with conscience should ask, what is his job? Where did he get the money?” 

“Let the world know that Ben Nwoye is suspended and his suspension is upheld by APC national leadership.And the major reason for 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”. 
“We have done the Ward Congress and we succeeded, we have done Local Government and we succeeded; whoever sits down there as the Chief Executive of APC by the time he left the rope of collecting money and selling our victory at least you people would have heard our name.”

“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 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 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.