Perhaps there is no better way to ensure mainstreaming of Nigerian youth into the nation’s politics than the action taken recently by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) when it chose young astute lawyer, Mr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, as its fourth substantive National Chairman. Onyebuchi Ezigbo writes on the future and challenges of the party.
The emergence of Ezeokenwa on the saddle is indeed presumptive considering his legal background. Despite his young age, Ezeokenwa has carved a niche for himself having been involved in many legal tussle to protect and preserve the soul the party from implosion. He had served as the National Legal Adviser for the party, a position that gave him the opportunity to engage in several legal tussles to ensure that genuine APGA candidates made it through the documentation at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest elections
Like other major political parties in the country, APGA has had its fair share of internal wranglings and leadership tussle since it’s formation in 1999.
The party has weathered many storms in form of leadership squables and contestations. To the credit of the immediate past national chairman of APGA, Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye, he fought hard to sustain the party and in the process made appreciable progress both in electoral successes and in growing the resources and assets of the party. It is on record that under his reign, APGA won elections in states outside of the party’s traditional strong base of South East. For example, APGA won legislative seats states like Imo, Abia, Bayesla, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue and Ebonyi.
The party also did well in elections in the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT), winning council seats in Gwagwalada Area Council.
In terms of repositioning and strengthening the party, Oye also did very well. Under his regime, APGA became the first of the three major political parties in the country to acquire a befitting structure for its national headquarters in Abuja.
So in line with the party’s constitution, APGA held it’s national convention at the at the International Convention Center, Awka Anambra State on the 31st of May, 2023.
The event brought together party delegates from across the country all adorned in various attires reflecting their cultural backgrounds. It was like a family affair as the party members exchanged banters and participated in the convention activities without rancour or acrimony.
As was expected, a team from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by its National Commissioner in charge of Information, Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, were on ground to monitor the exercise.
The convention programme which started with the inauguration of a magnificent four- storey regional headquarters of APGA at Awka, climaxed with the election of the former National Legal Adviser, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, as the new national chairman of the party. His election along with that of other 30 national officers of the party came unopposed and was confirmed through voice vote by the delegates.
Ezeokenwa Pledges To transform APGA into a party for Masses, Peasants.
In his acceptance speech shortly after taking oath of office as the new national chairman of APGA, Ezeokenwa vowed to take APGA back to its real owners — the people.
“I must admit that this task is daunting, yet doable by our collective will. It was Theodore Roosevelt who said during his second Inaugural Address in 1905 that “Much has been given to us, and much will rightfully be expected from us. We have duties to others and duties to ourselves and we can shirk neither”. Ezeokenwa said APGA is on the rise to a new level of excellence that will be powered by innovative and disruptive leadership.
According to the youthful politician, the new team is set to take APGA back to its real owners — the peasant farmers, artisans, petty traders, workers and high-end professionals all of whom are desirous of a party that will bring true progress and prosperity to their door step.
To achieve this, Ezeokenwa said he was launching the “Project DRIVE APGA” as a strategic and game changing approach to the political dynamics of the time.
“The Project “DRIVE APGA” is anchored on my strong resolve to move APGA from where it is currently to where it should be in the comity of political parties and politics in Nigeria generally.
This shall be anchored on five core principles viz; discipline, re-position, inclusiveness, visibility and lastly expansion — all these constitute the DRIVE principles that will move APGA to a place of pride under my leadership. We intend to begin the process of entrenching the enduring values espoused by the founding fathers of APGA. This includes the values of discipline, selflessness and obedience to the rules and constitution of the Party”.
The new national chairman whose emergence came at a very turblent time with several unresolved court cases, assured that maintaining a good image for APGA will be paramount and shall be held sacrosanct and always protected. Ezeokenwa said: “We shall commence a process of rebranding the party to meet emerging political and social realities. This will include rebranding, creating new narratives, and raising a more appealing collective consciousness that will open up APGA to fresh ideas.
He went on to say: “Under my watch, all organs/chapters of the party shall become active parts of the decision-making process. We shall energize the party through creating autonomous and scalable business models that will make the Party self-sustaining. APGA shall be transformed to a very competitive corporative society that will be beneficial to the lowest prong of its membership.
“Already, the turn of events in the last few weeks, right from the ward, local government up to the state congresses and national congress, have shown a new way of doing things. I say to us, this is but a foretaste to the new era of progressivism that is upon us”.
On APGA’s stand on national issues and consideration for political realignment, Ezeokenwa said the party believes in the unity and oneness of Nigeria. He, however, said the party holds the view that a constitutionally restructured Nigeria will bring about greater peace, prosperity, and development to the country.
He said this is the message that underpins the new drive philosophy.
Accordingly Ezeokenwa said, “If there is a party of true Progressives that will unite all Progressives across the country to bring about this better and restructured society, that party is APGA. I am committed to making this happen with your support.
Part of our innovative approaches for expansion to other States especially in the Southeast will include embarking on an intense membership drive aided by the use of modern technology for registration and engagement. We will tailor our messaging to capture the minds of progressive young people interested in joining our alliance, leveraging on the youth consciousness to build a formidable party where young people can realise their potentials. We will transform APGA as a party for the masses, the peasants, the low-income earners and the deprived in the country with emphasis on providing effective social nets to alleviate their suffering. This shall be the core values of any APGA Government. We shall work to establish a Foundation for APGA, The Foundation will serve as a strong support system, promoting party members’ well-being, growth, and political success through various initiatives”.
In stating his mission, Ezeokenwa did not forget to give kudos to all those before him who weathered the storm to keep the ship of APGA assail despite all the political turbulence. Among these veterans of the party is the immediate past national chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Ike Oye, who was described as the proverbial cat with nine lives, having survive over 200 court cases targeted at him by antagonists. The new APGA national chairman eulogized Oye for his large heart, courage and tenacity for which he managed the affairs of the party and for being able to leave behind an enduring legacy. He specifically praised Oye for acquiring two imposing structures in Abuja and Awka to serve as APGA national headquarters and South East regional office respectively.
Ezeokenwa also paid tribute to Governor Soludo of Anambra state saying, “indeed, your disposition towards effecting a disruptive change within our polity has heralded the possibility of the emergence of the youngest National Chairman of any major political party in Nigeria”.
Soludo Points Way Forward for APGA
Anambra state governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, made a very important political statement, declaring that his party, APGA, will collaborate with President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress-led administration at the centre.
According to him, working with the federal government had always been one of the cardinal principles laid down by APGA fore-bearers to ensure that the state reaches greater heights in development.
Speaking while inaugurating the regional Headquarters of APGA in Awka built by the Oye-led National leadership, Soludo said the party has come to stay and will consolidate on every gain it has so far made.
With regard to its alliance with the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Soludo said such principle had always guided APGA’s political relationship in the past.
“You see I tell our people the elections are over and APGA did not go to the Tribunal. We had our presidential candidate but we did not go to the Tribunal. And over the years, APGA has always worked in partnership with the government at the centre. That’s what we have done and that is what we had always done. When it was PDP, and when our brother Mr. Peter Obi was governor of Anambra state, they actively collaborated with the federal government and worked with the federal government.
“Indeed that time they did not field a presidential candidate for the election because they were supporting PDP.
That policy of working with the party at the centre we have not reviewed it and if we are going to review it, it will be in the future”. While speaking on the emergence of Ezeokenwa as new APGA national chairman, the governor also said the party has taken the lead in rebranding the political hemisphere in the country by electing a youth to head APGA. Soludo said APGA is the first party to cue into the clamour by Nigerian youths for genuine inclusion and participation in politics and governance of the country.
Oye’s Charge to Soludo on APGA’s Future
Conscious of the need to consolidate on the gains made by the party, Oye urged Soludo not to defect from the party.
Oye was leaving office amid rising apprehension over the fate of APGA especially with threat posed by the emergence of the Labour Party as a force to be reckoned with in the politics of Anambra and the South East zone as a whole.
At the same time, there is growing fear that if faced with serious challenges managing the issues in APGA, that Soludo might jump ship to join other political party.
Oye has successfully handled these challenges in his eight-year tenure which resulted in the election of Soludo as the Governor of Anambra state, succeeding Chief Willie Obiano. So as a parting shot, Oye said it would amount to abandoning the party that helped him achieve high pedestal in politics if Soludo exits to join another political party.
Speaking during the inauguration of new APGA regional headquarters building in Awka, Anambra state, Oye described Soludo as a man of the future who is destined to take APGA to greatest heights, adding that through APGA, he will one day lead the nation.
He said: “As our national leader, I am convinced that you will lead APGA to the eldorado of our dream. From your plans, in the next one year APGA will be competing with leading political parties.
“You are a product of God’ s love and you are seeking to do great things with little resources. You presence in APGA has been of great inspiration do not abandon us.
“I know you cannot abandon the party but I have to say it, what I have said is that governor please don’t abandon us and the word has gone forth, that means he will not abandon us. Through APGA, God has taken you to apogee”.
Oye further said: “APGA has put up this edifice to prove to the whole world that Nigeria can work, that Anambra state can work. When our governor came he met almost nothing and he took the bull by the horns, started building roads. I asked him where did you get the money and I said let me start the Secretariat may be the same magic will work and it’s working”.
As he bid farewell to the national Chairman’s seat of APGA, Oye expressed fulfillment that he and his team of the out-gone NWC came, saw and indeed conquered the challenges to keep the hope of APGA alive.
