The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has expressed deep concern over the intractable crisis in the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
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Onyeama, who spoke this during an interactive meeting with members and stakeholders of his group, Kwusike Political Family in Enugu, over the weekend, called for a rebranded and united APC in the State.
He said it was saddening that their hope of having a united APC after the elective congress was yet to be realized.
The minister explained that the crisis had festered to the extent that “we were even threatened with expulsion from the party for holding this meeting.”
He expressed worry that members of the party in the State were yet to learn from the mistakes of the past that made them lose previous elections.
“We had a number of crises for four years, which divided our party in the State and we were disillusioned for not winning elections.
“As an opposition party in the State, you have to be united to overthrow the ruling party. Even though we are in a difficult situation, there is hope going forward,” he said.
The Minister said it was not too late to seek for new circumstances that would put the party on good footing, adding that leaders were meant to serve their people.
According to him “the meeting was to do a postmortem of the circumstances that led to the lingering challenges in the party,” adding that they would not want to repeat past mistakes.
“I am here to meet with my ‘family’. Kwusike Foundation is not a factional group that divides our party as some people think.
“One of the reasons I wanted us to meet is to do a postmortem about what we did right or wrong in the past in order to prepare ourselves better for future endeavours.
“As a party, coming together to chart a course is not reactionary or maintaining a status quo that is anti-people,” he said.
According to Onyeama, “there have been lots of opinions and distractions after the party congress but we should not be distracted. “
He said that political power was not meant to intimidate the people but to serve them, adding that members of the party were equal stakeholders.
“We will fight to deliver APC and make it competitive in Enugu State. We should try to seize control of governance through the ballot and make a meaningful difference.
“A lot of you have been working hard for the party and together we shall overcome the challenges. APC must thrive in the State,” Onyeama said.
Also some members of the party, including Walter Oji, Benson Eze, Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu and Mrs Juliet Egbo, decried what they described as the hatred, hardship, intimidation and despair in the State chapter of the party and stressed for unity in the party.
