Ganduje under fire over comment on APGA

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has slammed with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, over his comment that Anambra State has remained politically disconnected from the center by remaining in the minority party, APGA.

Mazi Ejimofor Opara, APGA’s National Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Saturday, said that Anambra, though governed by a minority party, has fared better than most states Ganduje claimed were connected to the center.

Ganduje had, on Friday, made remarks during a South East APC colloquium held in Nnewi and organized by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, stating that Anambra has been politically dislocated from the South East by remaining in APGA.

In response, Opara pointed out that Ganduje’s eight years as governor of Kano State were among the reasons the state opted for a governor from the New Nigerian People’s Party, NNPP.

“Firstly, I wonder about the level of progress Kano State made under Ganduje’s APC that led to a revolutionary and historic rejection of the party by the people in 2023. The people instead chose to vote for the NNPP and were prepared to defend their votes with their lives.

“Ganduje should understand that the Southeast, and Ndi Anambra in particular, are more concerned with why Kano State, after his tenure, decided to disconnect from the APC-controlled center.

“Well, the APC is virtually non-existent in Anambra; I am certain Ganduje himself is aware of this fact. Furthermore, the continued presence of APGA in Anambra is based on its performance.

“Anambra, and indeed, the Southeast, belongs to APGA. This is an undeniable fact, and even if the region were to consider engaging with the Center, the APC has proven to be an unviable alternative. I sincerely hope that Mr. Ganduje will seek to see the obvious rather than choosing deliberate ignorance.

“From Peter Obi to Willie Obiano, and now Professor Soludo, Anambra has consistently been on a path of progressive growth. It is for this reason that even a political novice could confidently state, without hesitation, that Ganduje was either speaking to impress his host or is genuinely unaware of the facts.

“Under APGA, Anambra has remained a state of many ‘firsts’, and in recent times, the state under the Soludo administration has received numerous accolades.

“Let us recall that Anambra was recognized as the state with the best-deployed ICT, with the Anambra State ICT Agency under Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata receiving the award. Anambra has also been acknowledged as the state with the lowest out-of-school children.

“If all these achievements are what it means to be disconnected from the center, then Anambra will gladly remain disconnected,” he said.