The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has said it is a political dislocation for Anambra State to continue to remain in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, instead of connecting to the centre.
Ganduje, who was in Nnewi for a colloquium organised by the Southeast chapter of APC, said the marginalisation of the South East is rather a result of miscalculations by the people of the region.
He said such miscalculations have kept Anambra State in political dislocation and would continue to be so until the state dumps the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
Ganduje said: “We are here for the South East colloquium, but I prefer to speak about Anambra, where we are. Igbo are part of the ingredients of national integration. They are the most travelled and most enterprising people in Nigeria. They are creative, innovative, and competitive, and this is the basis of the Nigerian economy today.
“Anambra is not making the progress needed. Anambra has had Peter Obi, Obiano and now Soludo, all from APGA, as its governors, and that is 25 years of political dislocation for this state.
“They need to join the ruling political party and they will be happy and better for it. Why should Anambra continue to live in isolation? If there had been superlative performances on that isolated platform, it would have been a different thing. This is a vivid case of selfish politics.
“Other states have joined APC, but Anambra’s refusal to connect to the centre has denied her people the infrastructure and other benefits. You have to be at the table to negotiate what comes to you and if you are not at the table, no one will speak for you. Anambra is the only place where APGA is in government and the party has refused to grow.”
Also, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, who was at the colloquium, said the good thing about the colloquium is that APC has also come to agree that the South East is marginalised.
“The good thing is that the National Chairman of our party is part of the team of doctors that diagnosed this. There is a need for national integration, cohesion and unity so that we can have a pan-Nigerian project.
“If we are craving a Nigeria where equity and fair play will prevail, then we must be in the room where the affairs of the country will be discussed. We must rise from this room and resolve to be a part of the ruling party.
“We must go with capable men and women who will enjoy acceptance. We only need to understand the Nigerian political demography and create a corridor that we can use to exit from this political isolation.
“I’m here to welcome Ifeanyi Ubah into our party. He has proven to understand the dynamism required to navigate the political sphere. He came to the Senate through an unknown political party and if he can associate with a known political party, he will do more.
“A time will come when those who helped Igbo escape political marginalisation will be counted. I want to be counted as one who participated in creating an escape corridor for Ndigbo to escape marginalisation,” Governor Uzodimma said.