In the aftermath of the funeral of Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, one of the issues that will take the centre stage, especially by political analysts, is the fate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the political party which the late Ojukwu was its national leader. Ojukwu was not just the national leader, he was the party’s presidential flag-bearer in the 2003 and 2007 general elections. He was the rallying point of sorts for the party. CHUKS OHUEGBE writes.
When APGA was registered in 2001 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), its immediate problem besides finance, was to attract to its fold notable personalities that would shore up its acceptance both at the national political sphere and in the South East geo-political configuration.
The thinking of the initial promoters of the party, led by its pioneer national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, was to set up a political platform that would represent the Igbo interest in the larger Nigerian political chess game.
With this overriding philosophy, coupled with the late Ojukwu political trajectory, APGA could not have wished for a better national leader when he joined the party. Ojukwu’s entrance into the party catapulted it into reckoning.
There was no mistaking the fact that besides being an Igbo political platform, just as the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) was a Yoruba political platform, the Ojukwu persona was the rallying point. Even persons who didn’t know the philosophy of the party nonetheless, identified with it because of Ikemba’s aura.
Will APGA Remain A Rallying Point For Igbo Politics?
At the demise of Ikemba, the major issue besides his immediate family was the fate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the political party that shares a symbiotic identity with him. Ojukwu who lived and fought for Igbo cause by his leadership of APGA conferred that Igbo identity on the party.
Unarguably, if votes really counted in the previous elections, especially in the 2003 and 2007 general elections, APGA would have swept the polls in the five states that comprised the south-east geo-political zone. The Ojukwu factor was the reason. He had believed and doggedly pursued the political philosophy that Ndi Igbo should have a defined political cause.
At his death, APGA is controlling two states, Anambra and Imo, out of the five in the south east. While the other three states are under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), APGA has remained the alternate party. The question however, remains, with the passage of Ojukwu who steps into his shoes as the rallying point of APGA?
Chief Oscar Uka, a political scientist is of the view that the demise of the Ikemba would leave the APGA leadership fragmented. “I do not see anybody within the hierarchy of the party that has what it takes to weld the various contending forces together.
The late Ikemba Nnewi was an iconalistic personality. Everybody, whether party member or not reverred him. His word was law and nobody dared disobey him. I am afraid there is no replacement for him”.
For Musa Laraba, who said he is an admirer of the late Ojukwu, he said that from a distant pedestal he foresees the throwing up of a leadership tussle. “The party has for a long time been domicile and dominated by the people of Anambra state.
My fear is that stakeholders from the other places, especially the other Igbo states will want to aspire to control the reins of power within the party. This may be the defining point in the existence of APGA as a political party. How this is managed will determine the fate of the party.”
Who Becomes APGA National Leader?
For now, the thinking in the larger south east political platform is that the Anambra elements in APGA have hijacked the party. The likes of the party’s first and founding national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie who has had a long legal battle with the incumbent national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, still feel short-changed by the way and manner they were sidelined in the party affairs.
The incumbent governors of Anambra and Imo states, Mr. Peter Obi and Chief Rochas Okorocha are too pre-occupied with administering their respective states to bother about who becomes the national leader of the party.
There is however, a consensus of opinion that the party may not have a national leader as there is none readily available.
Rather, the party may opt for the strengthening its National Working Committee (NWC) to effectively run its affairs. “You cannot have two Ikembas in one generation. I want to admit that nature abhors vacuum, but there are no two persons who have the same character traits. A new leader will definitely emerge with his own style,” Chief Anayo Udeh explained.
Whether a new national leader of the party emerges or not, the general thinking is that the unanimity of purpose with which Ndi Igbo prosecuted the burial of Ojukwu could mark a turning point in their approach to national issues. Never in the history of contemporary Igbo race have they executed a mission with a common goal, irrespective of their republican nature.
APGA Followership
With the demise of Ojukwu, the major challenge APGA as a political party will face will be followership. When the late Ojukwu joined the party in 2002, his presence bestowed on the party character and ressss-defined philosophy. He was the symbol of the party.
The membership of the party experienced a spiraling whether in the south east or anywhere in the country. Even when the party experienced capital squeeze or muscling by the ruling PDP for instance, the late Ojukwu ensured that the party remained afloat and in contention by his mere presence at the auspicious time, especially at rallies.
Mr. Ethelbert Ugwuanyi, an APGA stalwart in Enugu state summarized the development thus; “Nobody expected the late Ojukwu to live for eternity. He left his landmarks? what is left for us is to continue from where he left off.
There is no doubt that it will be difficult to fill the huge vacuum he left, but don’t forget that APGA is a political movement guided by a philosophy that is not person centred. A political party that has existed for over ten years should have followership who are convinced about the party’s philosophy.
I expect an upsurge in the membership and followership of the party. As many that respected and believed in the Ojukwu ideals, especially as it concerns APGA will rather renew their faith in the party rather than distancing from it”.
Conclusion
The days ahead, starting with the governorship election in Anambra state next year, where the party holds sway will determine how its national leadership has re-aligned its forces, especially in recruiting the disgruntled elements within the PDP in the zone.
A more compelling challenge will also be how the party will venture out of the south east geo political zone and become acceptable in the other zones of the country. Whatever happens, the contending forces within the party, analysts contend, should guard against taking extreme positions that will mar the continued existence of the party.