Igbo APC At War Over Chairmanship Position In Lagos State

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Igbo In APC in Lagos State have gone back to the trenches for political leadership following the recent declaration by the Chairman of APC, Lagos State, Hon. Tunde Balogun, that ethnic traditional rulers should not hold any political positions and they should remain in their palaces as advisers to politicians.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the decision by the governing Party has cost the Ezendigbo in Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba, the position as the Coordinator of Igbo APC in Lagos State.

It was also gathered that Eze Uche Dimgba has offered to resign as Ezendigbo in Ikeja in order to retain the position but he was told that Igbo traditional rulers do not resign on the throne and if he does, the person will go on exile which is the dilemma Dimgba is facing presently.

Some Igbo stakeholders held a Congress at Igbo Community Centre in Okota, Lagos and sacked Eze Uche Dimgba, who was reportedly appointed by Apex leader, Chief Joe Igbokwe, as the Executive Coordinator or Chairman of Igbo In APC Lagos State.

During the Congress, Chief Chris Ekwilo, who is the leader of Coalition group also lost his position as member of the BOT while Engr. Joe Igbokwe was spared as Apex leader 1 and Hon. Jude Idimogu remained Apex leader 2.

In replacement, Chief Anselm Njoku was nominated and ratified by those present at the Congress including the traditional rulers from various Local Governments in the State led by the Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu.

The Congress was led by the Lagos State House of Assembly Member, Hon. Jude Idimogu, Igbo APC BOT Chairman, Chief Anselm Udoka, Barrister Christopher Okonkwo, Secretary, Igbo APC in Lagos, Emeka Amaraegbu, Youth leader, Barrister Leo Ikeagwu, Southeast APC Forum, Barr. Carol MBA, APC Treasurer and many others.

In an address read by Hon. Jude Idimogu with caption: Critical Stakeholders on the Chairmanship of Ndigbo in APC, it stated as follows:
“We have watched with dismay the arrogation of Eze Uche Dimgba, to himself as the Executive Coordinator of Ndigbo in APC, Lagos State. He claimed to be anointed by Apex leader, Engr. Joe Igbokwe. We hereby state as follows:
“It is a discretion, absurdity, sacrilegious and rape of custom and tradition of both Yoruba and Igbo land for Eze to led a political party or its pressure group.”
“After due consultation with the Council of Traditional Rulers, Ohanaeze, Igbo Speaking Community, Market traders and other Igbo groups, they not only condemned the act but directed that it should be corrected and get a replacement.”

“In further compliance with the directive of Lagos State APC headed by the Chairman, Hon. Tunde Balogun, in the presence of one of the GAC leaders, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, on 24th September, 2020, in the presence of some Igbo leaders, he directed that all Igbo traditional rulers should go back to their palaces as advisers and should not hold political party positions and it is hereby complied.”

The address stated that since the critical stakeholders have already nominated Chief Anselm Njoku as Chairman of APC in alternative, the Congress was held to ratify and endorse him. He was endorsed without any opposition, which he accepted and promised to unite and bring innovative ideas on board.

Two days later, another faction, who are loyalists of Chief Igbokwe, Eze Dimgba and Ekwilo, assembled at Ikeja and denounced the Congress and threatened to sack Hon Jude Idimogu, Chief Anselm Njoku, Eze Christian Nwachukwu and many others, who participated in the Congress, which they described as kangaroo APC.

They affirmed their loyalty to the Party and Apex leader, Engr. Igbokwe and reversed all the decision taken during the Congress, which was attended by many Igbo sons and daughters.