The controversy over calls for Anambra to dump the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is still raging in the polity. This is even as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to APC national chairman, Oliver Okpala has called on the Anambra state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to rein in his ‘political attack dogs.’

Ganduje, at a recent colloquium organised by the South East chapter of APC, called on Anambra and the entire region to join the ruling party to end many years of exclusion from the centre, a comment that attracted the anger of some APGA adherents who started attacking the APC national chairman.

Speaking on the issue, Okpala described those attacking Ganduje over the comment as uncouth and misguided political misfits who should be called to order.

Okpala advised those bitter over Ganduje’s call to rather appreciate the gesture of the APC leader to help Anambra and indeed the South East to be integrated into the mainstream national politics.

He said: “There is need for them to appreciate the gesture of Dr. Ganduje and not see his intervention as negative. His aim is for the economic development and political inclusion of Anambra state to move into the central national politics and nothing sinister as now being portrayed by the overzealous APGA attack dogs.”

Okpala emphasised that every right thinking Igbo man should be concerned about the age long political backwardness of the region and seek for solutions.

“So, he should be appreciated for his concern for them to be redeemed from their economic and political backwardness and not derided. He should be encouraged for taking interest in the affairs of the Igbos with a view to engender their socio- political fortunes.

“Ganduje is not against Governor Soludo or any Anambra man for that matter, he even captioned his comments as the way forward for Anambra and the South East as a whole, as he also described the Anambra governor as his personal friend.

“So, why these unnecessary attacks on his person, integrity, credibility, family and image by political charlatans in APGA? Governor Soludo should call these misguided boys to order and advise them on how not to address an elder. He should caution these mad political dogs who lack a sense of decorum.

“How do you describe a man who has seen it all in Nigeria’s political landscape as being ignorant? This is a two time governor of a state, and a political leader with over thirty five years experience in politics and the current National Chairman of the ruling party of the country.

“We need to ask those who Are attacking Ganduje, what their pedigree is, what is their antecedents and what do they represent? Our nation clearly does not need such lose canons.

“It is shameful that it is lost on them that this is the first time a national leader of a political party is coming to identify and empathize with the people of the South East; Anambra in particular on how they can be better integrated into national politics and thereby enjoy more bounties of democracy.

“He should not be insulted but seen as a partner in progress. He should be given accolades especially coming from another region. It shows that Ganduje is a bridge builder across the nation. That kind of politics is what we need now in Nigeria.

“Over the years Dr Ganduje has shown to be a true Nigerian and this has made him to be liked and loved across the country, earning him political victory and traditional titles across board.

“He had shown similar concerns in other geo political zones in the country and he was not insulted as the case is now. They appreciated and commended him for his concern over their plight,” he added. (Daily Sun)

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