Fides Media Living the Faith
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu and Ogochukwu Nwaokafor
Awka, the Anambra State capital, was a beehive of activities last Tuesday as the Regional Headquarters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) built by the Ozonkpu Dr Victor Ike Oye-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was commissioned in Awka.
Commissioning the Regional Secretariat, the Governor of Anambra State and National Leader of APGA, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, paid a glowing tribute to the out-going national chairman of the party for painstakingly carrying out what he described as a lofty and enduring legacy, stating that he (Oye) had shown that a lot could be achieved with little.
The visibly happy Anambra State number one citizen stated that what Oye did as the national chairman of APGA was un-Nigerian, explaining that many office holders would have embezzled every Kobo raised for such project. He said it was common with Nigerian politicians to amass wealth meant for public good to themselves.
‘I want to state here that Ozonkpu Oye has built APGA to last. This edifice here has shown how frugal, far-sighted and prudent Oye is. He is truly a selfless national chairman. Go to Abuja, you’ll see a permanent structure owned by APGA and here again, we have another gargantuan Regional Secretariat.
‘In my 43 years of my active politics, I have never seen any political party which has tried to build for the future. Oye built for the future. I want to specifically thank him immensely for his shrewdness, frugality and projects-laden leadership. Oye has demonstrated uncommon quality akin to a good leader.
He announced that a plaque containing the 31 NWC members of the party would be mounted at the National Headquarters, Abuja, as well as the Regional Office in Awka, emphasizing that all those who worked with the outgoing national chairman to achieve the feat would have their names boldly written on the plaque for posterity.
‘The names of these gentlemen and ladies, 31 of them, will be in that customized plaque. It will be mounted at strategic positions, both here and in Abuja. The Oye-led administration has raised the bar so high that it will be very difficult to fill by another. He’s leaving behind a very big shoe for his successor.
‘Leadership is all about service and that is exactly what we have come here to do today. To witness leadership characterized by service. We have five floors in this magnificent edifice and each signifies 50 years. 50 years by 5 gives you 250 years; that’s how long APGA will stay,’ Soludo prophesied.
Earlier, the National Chairman of APGA, Ozonkpu Victor Oye, recalled how the party had been operating from a rented building, adding that this birthed the dream for the building.
Chief Oye revealed that the structure has brand new Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, transformers; a massive generator house; 10 water tanks supported by six pillars; 11 rooms; 13 toilets; and solar panels with 20 batteries that can power seven standing air conditioners.
The Chairman who said he was pleased to have served the party for nearly 8 years, advised those who ran for the state congress but were unsuccessful to support the new leadership and wait for their turn, because, according to him, there was a time for everything under the sun.