Says IPOB’s directive on boycott won’t succeed
By Bode Olagoke Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia and the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Prince Paul Ikonne, has warned former governor of the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, to desist from speaking on behalf of the party or President Muhammadu Buhari. He, however, opined that Kalu “wrong foundation” as governor of Abia had taken the state 16 years aback. Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Ikonne said 95 percent of the people of Abia are not happy with the way Kalu governed Abia for eight years. He advised the former governor not to scare members of the party in Abia “with his style of leadership because we need a strong APC in Abia state.”
“If Abia is backward, Kalu laid the foundation and has taken the state 16 years backwards. He laid a very wrong foundation for Abia and as such, he should not be making statements that are false,” he said. “My advice to him will be to keep quiet, be in a sober mood, go in for retreat, and try as much as he can to build a path of peace. He should embark on a mission to reconcile everybody. “Ninety-fi ve per cent of Abians are not happy with the way he governed Abia state and the foundation he laid in the state. I witnessed a situation where elders knelt down for Kalu to do the right things in Abia, yet he didn’t do them. He should not scare people away of APC with his style of leadership because we need a strong APC in Abia state.
“It’s unfortunate that the former governor of Abia state, Kalu is speaking when he is not asked to speak. We need men and women of integrity that would help us build the party.” Th e APC chieftain also said it was not in Kalu’s place to give a date for the return of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is away on medical vacation in the UK. “Last time, the same Kalu told Nigerians that President Buhari would return soon and he is not the spokesman of the President. Till now, the President is yet to return. Th ese are not the characters we need. He should keep quiet and learn to live like an elder statesman. “Kalu cannot destabilise APC with his attitude. Th e deception we witnessed during his tenure would not repeat itself. With the wind of change blowing in the grass root, APC will win the election in Abia state in 2019.”
