Joshua Ahaneku
The battle for the soul of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) may have reached a crescendo following the deepening of a perceived rift in the party. This rift in manifested recently at a stakeholders meeting with key leaders of the party heed in Awka, Anambra State. The meeting was attended by who is who in APGA, including Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was conspicuously absent at the meeting. He was neither represented by aides at the meeting.
A source in the party stated that the absence might be related to feelers that Okorocha and Obi are differing on some issues concerning the party. Unconfirmed reports has that issues relating to the 2015 presidential election might be the bone of contention as both Governors do have divergent views about it.
At the Enugu meeting attended wife of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Bianca, in a communiqué resolved.
They also resolved to strengthen and open up the party to all Nigerians. In this respect, they said, the National executive Committee, the National Board of Trustees and the National Council will be reconstituted to ensure adequate geographical spread of the party leadership.
The communiqué also resolved to adopt the derivation principle in the allocation of resources within the party so as to encourage healthy rivalry amongst the different levels of the party structures.
However, with the absent of the National Chairman of the party in the meeting as well as the absent of Governor Rochas Okorocha the divisions and power tussle between Governor Peter Obi and Owelle Rochas Okorocha on who controls the souls of the party seen not to have end in sight.
