“This nomination is APGA’s loss as Lady Bianca would now align openly with the federal government’s political interests in Anambra State. “ —Ebuka Onyekwelu
The nomination of Lady Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumemegwu-Ojukwu, has continued to generate reactions from different quarters. For some members of the APC in Anambra, it is another source of worry about the party’s reward system. Yet, other members of Anambra APC believe that Bianca’s appointment is for the higher cause of positioning the party ahead of the 2025 gubernatorial election in Anambra State. Indeed, from all possible accounts, the APC requires all promising bipartisan synergy to win the election.
The fact is that APGA has never won any election in Anambra State on its credit solely as a party and no party has ever won any election in Anambra without a critical bipartisan alliance. Stakeholders and members of opposition parties in Anambra often work for any candidate that ticks their boxes, against their political party. This is especially why the current government’s social capital is troubling to the governor’s supporters who understand how Anambra elections are won. Anambra State elections have never shown a clear partisan divide. Therefore, APC’s route to the Government House of Anambra State in 2025 will not be different.
Interestingly, APGA also claimed ownership of Amb. Bianca’s latest nomination as Minister of State, Foreign Affairs. Some stakeholders in Governor Soludo’s faction of the APGA have sent congratulatory messages, almost reminding her that she is a BoT member of the APGA. Then in some sense claiming ownership of her appointment. The irony of it all is that under Governor Soludo, the relevance and essence of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the eternal leader of APGA has been obliterated. From inception, Governor Soludo has not shown much of a regard for Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. His position might be ideological given that he is a known Zikist. On March 17th2022, while he was taking the oath of office, Prof. Soludo went around almost the entire nation paying homage to diverse statesmen and leaders. But failed to mention or acknowledge Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu throughout his long speech. What followed next was the removal of Ojukwu’s portrait from APGA’s uniform. The abolition of Ojukwu’s memory in APGA by the current APGA government in Anambra State is calculated and carefully being executed by the governor and the current leadership of the governor’s APGA faction. Given this circumstance, it is therefore rather strange that the same faction of APGA averse to Ojukwu would jump on his widow’s ministerial nomination which is solely the prerogative of the President.
Yet, there is another angle to the nomination. Some feel that Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu should not accept the nomination. This perspective could have easily passed for a comedy if its proponents did not sound convinced. The mere fact that anyone would think, for whatever reason, that Anambra State is better off without a Minister in the Federal Cabinet of Nigeria is beyond ridiculous. Without much interrogation, it is obvious that those in this category are drawn from people who are still trapped in the resentment of the 2023 Presidential Election outcome. Out of politics or other fleeting considerations, some people are yet to accept the reality that Mr. Tinubu is Nigeria’s president and must appoint ministers from all the states of the federation as dictated by the Constitution. To this end, dissuading eminently qualified nominees of the president from accepting their nominations would add absolutely nothing to the people involved in such ‘advocacy’ and conversely remove nothing from the president. Elections have come, gone, and dispensed with till the next season. Anyone still glued to the election mood and still allowing the election expectation to shape his or her outlook is doing so in futility. Political considerations present in the 2023 Presidential election now point to nothing substantial in any scheme of events at present.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s appointment came directly from President Tinubu and it didn’t come to Bianca as a surprise. So the question as to whether she should accept it or not, is easily dismissed for lacking any iota of gravity. Governor Soludo’s faction of APGA might as well save their congratulatory messages as they point to nothing. At best, this nomination is APGA’s loss as Lady Bianca would now align openly with the federal government’s political interests in Anambra State. As for those urging her to reject the nomination, they need to move on from the past election and possibly focus on the future election. Anything else is just a mere exercise in futility.
______________
- Anambra APC Chieftain Commends President Tinubu on Port Harcourt Refinery - December 1, 2024
- Operation Delta Sanity III: Navy Delivers Healthcare To Ogbaru Residents - November 29, 2024
- Examining the notion that Anambra Voters Do not vote for the APC - November 29, 2024