Uzodinma Is Not Fit To Continue As APC Govs Forum Chairman – Okechukwu

A former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has said the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, is not fit to continue as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, Okechukwu appealed to the Forum to immediately remove Uzodinma as chairman for the mismanagement of the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary election which regrettably produced three candidates.

The founding member of the ruling party said the Forum should remove Uzodinma as its chairman before he wrecks the party.

He said: “Why Uzodimma who bungled a similar assignment in Edo 2020 should be given a second assignment? How much more malfeasance do we still expect from my big brother before he is eased out of vital assignments?”

“How can a sane Chairman of APC Governors Forum deliberately breach the extant laws by announcing results with impunity, albeit consigned to the dustbin his elementary knowledge that it is the sole duty of the Returning Officer?

“Based on the foregoing, is it appropriate for the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum to abandon the more germane issue of advising Mr President alongside other progressive governors on how best to rescue Nigeria from the dire economic doldrums, thus chasing rats while the house is burning?

“For me, it is obvious that Uzodimma seems not to understand the demands of his office as chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, but chooses to meddle with political assignments, which amounts to chasing a rat while the house is on fire.

“Moreover, our party should take serious steps to quickly repair the monumental damage that Governor Hope Uzodimma has done to the image of our national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, whom he cajoled into endorsement of his canceld while the house is burning?

“For me, it is obvious that Uzodimma does not understand the demands of his office as chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, but chooses to meddle with political assignments, which amounts to chasing a rat while the house is on fire.

“Moreover, our party should take serious steps to quickly repair the monumental damage that t Governor Hope Uzodimma has done to the image of our national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, whom he cajoled into an endorsement of his cancelled shambolic primary election.[sic]”

Okechukwu narrated how APC’s misfortunes started with Anambra State gubernatorial primary election which Uzodimma handled during the party’s Congressional elections in the Southeast zone in 2022.

He added: “Then, as if that ugly prelude to 2023 general elections was not enough, Governor Uzodimma generated hatred, rancour, malcontents and alienated APC membership long before Peter Obi’s factor.

“The summary of Uzodimma’s woeful leadership is the 2023 presidential election results in the Southeast, which posted dismal outcomes: Abia- 8,914 against 85,058 in 2019, Anambra- 5,111 against 33,298 in 2019, Ebonyi-42,402 against 90,726 in 2019, Enugu- 4,722 against 54,423 in 2019 and Imo- 66,406 against 140,463 in 2019.”