By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The lawmaker representing Idemili South constituency in the Anambra state House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuka Ezenwune, on Tuesday, narrated why he dumped the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Besides, he lamented that for over seven years of the APGA led government under Governor Willie Obinao in the state, he cannot point to any project that was executed for people of his constituency.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after announcing his decision to join the PDP before members of the house during plenary, Ezenwune declared that APGA was bereft of internal democracy, cannot provide a national platform for Igbo Presidency in 2023 and has been hijacked by a few individuals in the state.
He said, “You know party politics is all about interest; the interest of your constituent, your own interest; so like I said in the chambers a lot of reasons informed my decision. One thing is that the party, APGA, for me is no longer a political party. It is now a cult, being run by a cult leader and as a person that loves democracy I don’t believe in cultism.”
“I believe in a party you will have a say, you will have a contribution but I must tell you, in this party, it’s been run by four or five people and they will just pass decisions on you. And apart from that after the 2018 primary, I made up my mind that I won’t run anything on the platform of the party again because of the ugly experiences. I decided that I won’t run anything under the APGA platform,” he stated.
“Again, I felt my local government, my constituency was marginalized by this party for seven years. I could not point to any dividend of democracy except the ones I did as my constituency projects at N20m per community constituency that’s the only thing I can boast of, that is the traffic light at Afor Nnobi; that is the only thing I can boast of and when I look at the budgets and what accrued to my local government as federal subvention (allocation) and state government’s budgets for the past seven years I wonder, can I point to a two, three billion naira project executed in my constituency I represent; they have the interest to protect. So, that’s one of the reasons I defected”
The legislator said, “Secondly, even during the last congress I and my supporters were viciously excluded and I felt that my future in the party is not guaranteed and I have to relate to my people that, look I cannot continue to remain in this party and be your spokesman.”
“Again, when we joined APGA in 2012, we believed it would grow beyond the borders of Anambra state. What we have been experiencing is one step forward and ten steps backwards. In what is happening in Nigeria today, we are talking about Igbo Presidency, every other zones in Nigeria today have had their take at the Presidency. So, APGA cannot guarantee me that there will be an Igbo Presidency.”
NLC, Ogun residents block Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, protest deplorable state
“I want to join a National party that will provide a platform for an Igbo Presidency and I look at the leaders of the Igbo, if I look at my party, APGA, can I call all the people there as leaders of Igbo, they are not there. So, I see it as a fallacy telling people its party for Ndigbo. As the Igbo say, it is no longer Nkea bu nke anyi (This is our own); it is nkea (this) is for ndi ori (this is for the thieves),” he added.
On the allegation that the defection is part of moves to launch himself to the green chambers of the National Assembly, the lawmaker said, “Well, my people are urging me that I should move higher to represent them at the green chamber but I have not taken a final decision on that. But, I believe that if I am going to contest for national election I don’t believe the wings of the cock is strong enough to fly beyond Benue River.”
