By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
A former aspirant for Ahiazu Mbaise chairmanship seat under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Dr. Jude Agulanna, has commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his magnanimity at refunding the unsuccessful APC aspirants the monies they paid purchasing the APC Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms.
The astute politician while responding to questions from newsmen in Monday, September 16 at the APC Secretariat along Okigwe Road, Owerri, during a stakeholders’ meeting, also used the opportunity to solicit support for the APC Chairmanship Candidate For Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Chief Larry Chikwe, describing him as possessing the competency and goodwill to lead the LGA.
Dr. Chikwe, who reacted to inquiries concerning the controversies surrounding the selection process of the APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates, subscribed to party supremacy, adding that the party in its wisdom had taken decisions for the overall best interest of members, thanking Governor Uzodimma for his fatherly role in the party and the APC leadership in the state for applying uncommon wisdom in handling the just concluded primaries.
He noted: “I aspired for the chairmanship of the Ahiazu Mbaise LGA under the All Progressive Congress APC in the just concluded primaries which produced Chief Larry Chikwe (Enyioha Mbaise, Enyi Nde Omuma) as the candidate. So, it is not a surprise because Hon Larry Chikwe has been a consistent man in APC. And in every ramifications, Larry Chikwe is overqualified to be the chairman both by zoning, merit and in everything.
“So, we join hands in congratulating him and commending the wisdom of our governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma because our governor as the leader of the party knows the best for this state. What he sees today, we the aspirants may not see it. So, there is no aberration in the selection as it has been the system. The local government elections had been a leadership affairs and not all comers affairs, going to the field to decide who gets what.
“Also, the APC leadership in its wisdom knows the reasons and the best way to actualize the collective objectives concerning conflicting issues like the just concluded APC primaries. So, we are very grateful to our governor, and appreciate his magnanimity in refunding the aspirants who purchased APC forms but could not make it. Truly, it is not a right because election is like gambling, if you play and win you celebrate, but if you loose today, you may win another day.”
Dr Agulanna, advised the aspirants who lost out to realize and understand the system they are involved in, arguing that such knowledge should have made them not to be aggrieved as some are reported, adding, “This is politics and it has no streamlined method of selection. It comes with it own system at anytime and what matters is that only one person must occupy a particular position at a time.
“Former President Muhammadu Buhari opted for elective position for many years, but when his time came, he emerged. So, everybody should wait for his turn,” he opined.
Furthermore, Dr. Agulanna assured of the victory of the APC candidate in Ahiazu Mbaise in the Saturday’s local government elections, declaring confidently: “Don’t lose sleep of APC’s victory in Ahiazu Mbaise because today, APC is Ahiazu and Ahiazu is APC. So. Larry Chikwe is sure of victory even if you conduct election hundred times, Larry Chikwe will win.
