A socio-political group, Niger Delta Action Network (NDAN) has picked holes in the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) recent chairmanship primaries across the Local Government areas of Rivers State, saying it is a brazen rape of democracy.
In a telephone chat with our reporter, President of the group, Comrade Precious Nangolo carpeted the greedy posture of the Chairman of APC, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya over the choice of some candidates who have the blessings of their “godfathers” to scale through at the expense of credible candidates whom the masses want.
Nangolo was particular about the choice of one Benson Imle from Ikuru Town, Andoni, home town of the APC boss, adding that the said candidate is Ikanya’s Personal Assistant (PA) whom he picked to get the chairmanship ticket.
Going down memory lane, Nangolo based his argument on the fact that Ikuru Town is under Ngo clan and therefore should not produce the chairmanship candidate, pointing out that the clan has had its fair share of producing over three (3) candidates in the recent past that governed the LGA. “For fairness, justice and equity, Ataba clan by my calculation deserves the chairmanship seat, because Unyeada Clan had the House of Representatives seat, while Asarama Clan got the House of Assembly seat, leaving Ataba clan with nothing,” he stressed.
Nangolo contended that the standard of excellence of any leader is not measured by performance alone, but the ability to inspire, innovate, impact and show justice and equity through transparent governance. He said he has so much respect for Ikanya but all that is history, because he has decided to tow the line of his kinsman (Prince Uche Secondus) whom he is always attacking of being greedy and self-centred. “He is now running APC like his personal estate. He should also bring in political retirees from his community or family for positions of trust,” he said.
He stated that for vibrancy and commitment to service to return to the APC, Ikanya must be called to order to possibly review what he did in Andoni and again show willingness of oneness and not a divided house as it is now.
NDAN leader further recognizes the challenges faced by the APC, saying self seeking individuals who wish to plunder the party will not be tolerated. He said the people and the entire APC followers are tired of mediocre leadership of Chief Ikanya and his cohorts.
“Do you know that years back when “Total Chair”, (Prince Secondus) caged Ikanya, every Tom, Dick and Harry had sympathy for the APC boss, but what is playing out now is really shocking for someone like Ikanya to promote sectional interest by picking his PA from Ikuru Town for the Chairmanship seat in Andoni. He has quickly forgotten his years of slavery under Prince Secondus. What an irony,” Nangolo stated.
NDAN called on the leader of the party in the state, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to urgently intervene in the Andoni Chairmanship issue, because they pledged to shake off the heavy darkness in which Ikanya has plunged them into, adding that the concept and ideology of the APC is precipated on change, devoid of sectional and clannish interest exhibited by the APC Chairman. ###
