NJOKU, REINSTATED APGA NATIONAL CHAIRMAN LEADS PARTY’S NWC TO EMOTIONAL REUNION WITH CHEKWAS OKORIE, PARTY’S FOUNDER, PIONEER NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

Enugu: Chief Edozie Njoku, the reinstated National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Saturday, led members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to the Enugu residence of its founder and pioneer National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Ojeozi Ndigbo, for an emotional reunion.

Njoku, who was recently affirmed as the authentic National Chairman of the party by the Supreme Court, expressed regret that Chief Okorie was unjustly pushed out of the party for many years after all the pains and sacrifices he passed through in conceiving and eventually getting the party registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He however, appealed to him to return to the party, saying “we are here today to say we are truly sorry for all the injustices you suffered in a party you formed.

Njoku, who holds the revered chieftaincy title of Onwa Ibeku stated that he felt emotional when he saw Okorie and other founding members of the party who contributed immensely to the growth of the party in the past.

“When I saw some people here , I realised the setback APGA has suffered. We are here with selected members of NWC to say we are sorry for all the injustice you suffered in the party.“APGA is your baby, please come back to your home. Please forgive us from the bottom of your heart.

“This is your family, so please come back to the home you built. From the bottom of my heart, I am saying please come back, sir”.

The Mbaise born business magnate and founding member of APGA seized the opportunity to call on all Stakeholders of the party to join hands with him in rebuilding the party.

He assured Okorie, that APGA under his watch would continue to pursue the dream of the pioneer national Chairman, who has joined the ruling All progressive Congress APC after his defunct United peoples party UPP was deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

“Whenever I see Chekwas Okorie and see APC, I take two steps backwards”, Njoku said, explaining that it was an aberration for Chekwas Okorie to have been pushed out of APGA, a party synonymous with his name to join APC.

Responding, Chief Okorie, said he was very happy to recite the slogan of APGA after a long time, adding that the visit was really emotional.

He said : “I am a bit emotional with the nature of this visit. Even if I have a heart of stone, you have melted my heart. God has rescued APGA and the days of the locusts is over.

According to him, the incumbent national chairman, APGA was not just a foundation member of APGA but that he was as well part of Igboezuo socio-cultural organization, where APGA was conceptualized.“We are going to build back APGA but if we must succeed in this second missionary journey, we must be careful with dangerous people.

I will consider what you have requested of me favorably.I” will consult with those who stood by me throughout the locust days. I will not keep you waiting for a long time. Nigerians will hear from me very soon.” he assured the elated gathering of party stalwarts.

Okorie who went down memory lane on how the party was formed, said APGA was a victim of political brigandage caused by political buccaneers and a victim of political kidnapping.

He as well urged Njoku, the National Chairman to avoid some former leaders of the party who he described as “a virus”

Okorie equally recalled the sacrifice made by the National Chairman, Njoku, at the early stage of the party, “Njoku, was in 2002,the National Vice Chairman of APGA, South East. However, I pleaded with him to give up his seat to Victor Umeh, in the spirit of reconciliation to strengthen the party and he humbly complied”

Former National Chairman of the party Victor Oye was sacked recently by the Supreme Court, affirming Njoku as the authentic helmsman of the party.

In his reaction, Hon Engr Tony-Uche Ezekwelu, KSJI, APGA National Vice Chairman, South East stated that he was glad that APGA had finally gotten back to its feet, “As a foundation member of this great party, I’m so glad that our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, is finally back on its feet, after several years of wandering in the wilderness”