The South East chapter of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen in defense of the position of the party on the recent ultimatum handed to the party by the Ohaneze Youth Forum stating that the APC is a Pan-Nigeria political party and not Anti-Igbo.
The APC which stated this in a statement signed by its spokesperson in the South East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said that the action was necessary to douse tensions in the body over the position of the party.
The All Progressives Congress was responding to the recent ultimatum given to the party by the OYF to render an unreserved apology to the former Chief Of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika within 48hours, over allegations of sponsoring members of the Boko Haram terrorist sect.
The statement also stated that contrary to the insinuations making the rounds about the party, the APC’s goal is the welfare and security of every Nigerian, and that it intended to build an egalitarian society, where it is everybody according his needs and to the best according to his talent.
The statement which also made clarifications on its earlier position stated ‘Secondly, for the avoidance of doubt, what our National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun called for is President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, to invite the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) to investigate and prosecute Senator Ali Modu Sherif and Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), consequent upon the allegation leveled by the Federal Government negotiator, Rev. Dr Stephen Davis’.
The party further stated that ‘APC in league with other Nigerians patriots is of the candid view that unravelling the masterminds, sponsors, allies and sympathizers of the monster called Boko Haram, is a sure bet to stamping out of the insurgency’.
The leading opposition party also criticised the attitude of the Federal Government on the recent allegations saying that the Federal Government of Nigeria was still to respond in any way to the recent allegations made by the Australian more than a week after Rev. Dr Stephens Davis’s allegation became public stating that the spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar was not a spokesperson for the President or the Federal Government.
The statement also warned the youths of the region not to be drawn into a conflict by some elders who were pursuing personal interests but should rather ask pertinent questions on why the former Army Chief was sacked in controversial circumstances earlier in the year.
APC stated further that ‘Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Leadership needs be reminded the old Igbo maxim that you do not throw stone into the market, for the stone may hit your mother or father. Therefore, we candidly, do not see anything wrong in Mr President, who agreed that Boko Haram has penetrated his Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, requesting the International Criminal Court to intervene as the Boko Haram insurgency is a matter of urgent national importance’.
