A civil society group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has applauded Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh and Anambra State, Governor, Mr. Peter Obi for opting to embrace peace and work together for the interest of the party.
Chairman of the group, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi praised Governor Peter Obi and APGA National Chairman Victor Umeh for sealing a peace deal, adding that it was necessary to avert what he described as “the criminal political class from staging a disastrous come back to Anambra politics.”
The group called for integration of everyone, including Barrister Maxi Okwu, and others elected with him during the April 8 National Convention in Awka into the party.
“The reconciliation, which took place yesterday- July 29, 2013, is also in line with our strong belief in alternative dispute resolution approach as opposed to self-help and litigation approaches especially in matters of civil disputes”, he said in a statement. The group which claimed to have written to the parties in 16th of July 2013 requesting reconciliation in the interest of democracy said that with what has happened the choice of the people is restricted to the ballot box.
“When political machinery is hijacked and controlled by political criminal gangs, electorates have no choice than to elect one of the criminals as their next leader. Political criminals thrive in a society with limited formal education and social consciousness. In such an environment, “psychology of politics” becomes a powerful instrument and weapon of deceit and confusion in the name of “political campaign and promises”, the group said, adding that there is more to credible polls than election monitoring. “Vibrant pro-democracy and rights NGOs must advocate against seizure of political machinery by political criminals and ensure that it is in the hands of political saints and agents of positive social change at all times. This is our main ground of calling for reconciliation so as to save the Ojukwu-fathered party from extinction and prevent criminal political class from staging a disastrous come back to Anambra politics” the group said.
The group noted that Igbos are facing challenges of survival in the hands of her major federating partners especially the Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba of Southwest. “While the race is being steadily exterminated by the north, it faces fierce media warfare and other socially discriminatory policies from the Southwest. In the eyes of our Southwest counterpart, “Igbo geniuses are evils that must be crushed”, while her clowns and charlatans are “saints who must be adored and celebrated at all times in the Yoruba media. We thank the duo of Mr. Peter Obi and Mr. Victor Umeh for coming together again. We also thank Their Lordships and other concerned Igbo sons and daughters including Mr. Raphael Uwazuruike of MASSOB and Mrs. Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu for their historic roles in settling the differences”, the g
