A former Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities in Imo State, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, has resigned from party politics “due to poor reward system of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The Imo APC Chieftain, in a recent letter to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, through the office of the Chief of Staff of the Governor, recalled the roles he played from the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which later merged with other parties to form the APC, lamenting that despite his political prowess and achievements for the ruling party over the years, “I have not been rewarded for my sacrifices for the Party.”

In his words, “I joined Nigerian politics in 2001 through the advice of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who hosted me at his Finchley mansion in North London.

“Before then, I commanded a lot of influence in Labour Party of the Cities of London and Westminster, London as a member, that I was even written by the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. I relocated to Owerri, Imo state and first joined The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for the position of the Ikeduru LGA chairman on the advice of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, but after paying the N300,000 nomination fee as an aspirant, I received His Excellency Anthony Onyearugbulam who led a delegation which included Dr. Obi Njoku to approach me to join the All People’s Party (APP which later changed to ANPP). Under this platform, I ran for the Ikeduru LGA Chairmanship election in 2004 and won, but the PDP-controlled the state electoral body (ISIEC), refused to declare me winner of that election but rather declared the PDP then as the winner. I remained in the party. The National Executive of ANPP later dissolved Sir EJK Onyewuchi-led Imo State Executive of ANPP and handed over the leadership to me as the Caretaker Committee Chairman. I later contested and won as the StateChairman of the ANPP and was reelected for a second term of 4 years making it a total of 9 years I served as the Imo State Chairman of the defunct ANPP.

“Sir, during this period, I funded the Party, including our candidates and the prosecution of all the abandoned litigations against the party, ANPP. I made sure that there were regular monthly meetings of the Party from Ward to State levels which I sponsored. As a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), I commanded a lot of influence in ANPP at the National level which helped to make Chief Edwin Umezoke as the ANPP National chairman and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, later as the National Chairman also. I organized and sponsored the removal of Chief Edwin Umezuoke as the National Chairman of ANPP when he tried to elongate his tenure of office. I was a member of the last National Convention Committee of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), held at Zamfara State for its merger with CAN and CPC to form APC. Buhari knew me then personally.

“Due to my popularity and competence, I was appointed by His Excellency, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the then Governor of Yobe State as his Presidential Campaign Chairman when he aspiredfor the office of Nigerian President under ANPP in 2007. I built his political structure in the 774 LGAs of Nigeria and maintained a good account of our income and expenditure. But due to his respect for General Buhari, he stepped down for him during the ANPP National convention in 2007 at the Eagles Square Abuja.

“Ever since this APC regime, I have not been rewarded for my sacrifices for the Party in terms of befitting appointment. His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha, as the Governor of Imo State, in 2015, gave me appointments (due to the role I played for him during his 2nd term election and NOT as APC member). He appointed me as the Chairman, Management Committee of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) where I raised the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of IBC from zero monthly income to N13 million monthly income. I increased the staff welfare and maintained the equipment. I also reduced the Government Monthly subvention to IBC from N26 million to N13 million. Due to my good performance at IBC, Governor Okorocha appreciated and appointed me on merit as the commissioner for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Pension, to use my expertise to raise the IGR of Imo State and I did. I performed well in this ministry and he later redeployed me to a new ministry he created for me as Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utilities and other four appointments.

“APC at the National level has not rewarded me. That was why in 2016, I brought together, former National Executive Committee Members (NEC) of the defunct ANPP in Abuja and sponsored a meeting where we planned to pull out of APC government but for the intervention of the then Governor of Yobe state, His Excellency, Alhaji Gaidem. This group is still intact today and goes by the name, GNG (Great Nigeria Group). I led this group for a meeting with Senator Shettima at his Abuja residence two days before his unveiling as the APC Vice Presidential Candidate as a former member of the defunct ANPP.

“Sir, I am well recognized and accepted by top Northern politicians, who know my political value, trust and appreciate me and always open their doors to welcome me whenever necessary.”

Ajumbe also lamented that despite offering to render advisory services to Uzodima free of charge in order to “add value to your government for the good governance of Imo State,” the Governor had fixed several appointments but did not keep any, which had resulted in Ajumbe spending lots of his personal money on “flight tickets, hotel accommodation and other logistics,” without meeting with the governor.

“Sir, recall my private meeting with you late last year at your residence in Government House, when I told you that I do not need any appointment or contracts from your government but that I would give you advice pro bono that will add value to your government for the good governance of Imo State. I believe that, that advice I gave, made meanings to you.

“Your Excellency, for the assignments you gave to me, you made it difficult for us to meet so as to submit my reports. You had invited me on several occasions to come to Owerri for a meeting with you. I would spend my money on flight tickets, hotel accommodation and other logistics and spend weeks in hotel without meeting with you. When I speak with you on phone, you would tell me to wait. At one time you asked that I should fly with you in a private aircraft to Abuja for a meeting with you in Abuja, which I did, but on reaching Abuja, you never had the time to meet with me and as usual, I spent my money on hotel accommodation and return ticket. I have spent over N5 million of my personal money trying to keep to our appointments that never held,” Ajumbe said.

The APC Chieftain however said that having served as a member of APC and Presidential Think-tank committee by His Excellency, Mai Mal Buni, Yobe State Governor, as the then National Chairman of APC on behalf of President Buhari, he wants to remain a political consultant for those who knows his value, ready and willing to assist if called upon, to add value to the administration of the Imo state Governor because he wants the progress of the state, adding that “this letter would not have been necessary, if you had kept to the several appointments you gave to me.”

“Your Excellency, I am deciding that, instead of spending my money so, to remain aloof or leave APC and Party politics. I have known that those who suffer for APC do not get rewarded at last. On 25th of May, 2021, I was appointed and inaugurated as a member of APC and Presidential Think-tank committee by His Excellency Mai Mal Buni Yobe State Governor, as the then National Chairman of APC on behalf of President Buhari. This position is more of advisory and image laundering and without salary. As an elder at 62 years of age now, my wants are limited. I only work for the good governance of Imo State for my children and those unborn and Imo People. With the level of my National contacts which I have accumulated over the years, I can get my wants without being a member of any Political Party. I want to remain a Political Consultant for those who know my value. As an elder statesman of this State, Imo, who desires its progress, I am always ready, if called upon, to assist in anyway, free of charge, to add value to your administration that will give my State, Imo, good governance. This letter would not have been necessary, if you had kept to the several appointments you gave to me,” he added.