By Sunny A. David, Awka
Chief Chekwas Okorie, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has criticised Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, over his recent criticisms of former governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Okorie accused Soludo of using his support for President Bola Tinubu as a platform to attack Obi, urging the Anambra governor to concentrate on issues affecting the people of the state.
Okorie made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed disappointment over what he described as Soludo’s continued criticism of the former Anambra governor.
According to him, Obi had continued to show respect and extend courtesies to Soludo despite the governor’s alleged attacks against him.
“I have watched with disgust and utter disappointment, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s vicious and vile vendetta against Mr. Peter Obi,” Okorie said.
He alleged that Soludo had been “hiding under the cover of supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu” to express his opposition to Obi.
Okorie attributed the strained relationship between the two politicians to three major political developments in Anambra.
He identified the first as the 2009 Anambra State governorship election, in which Obi defeated Soludo.
According to Okorie, Soludo’s loss in the election was one of the factors behind the governor’s alleged hostility towards Obi.
He also cited Soludo’s disqualification from the APGA governorship primary in August 2013, under the leadership of Chief Victor Umeh, saying Soludo had blamed Obi for the development.
The third issue, according to Okorie, was the Anambra Central senatorial primary ahead of the 2023 general election. He said Umeh subsequently contested and won the election on the platform of the Labour Party, which he attributed to Obi’s political influence.
Okorie alleged that the three developments contributed to Soludo’s alleged determination to undermine Obi politically.
He also recalled Soludo’s 2022 article, titled “History Beckons and I Will Not Remain Silent,” describing it as a significant point in the governor’s public criticism of Obi.
The APGA chieftain further expressed his support for Obi, describing him as a prominent presidential candidate and arguing that an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket would have been a formidable combination in Nigeria’s political history.
Okorie, however, urged Soludo to focus on governance and the challenges confronting residents of Anambra State.
“There are several issues challenging the people of Anambra State that are sufficient to keep Prof. Soludo busy. Prof. Soludo should be mindful of the verdict of history,” he said.
He concluded by appealing directly to the governor: “Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, leave Mr. Peter Obi alone.”
