Igbos should ostracize Okwu for calling Ojukwu ‘Extremist’ – Umeh


On April 10, 2013 · In News

4:20 pm
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By Tony Edike
ENUGU—FOR describing the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as an extremist, the National Chairman of the Peter Obi faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Maxi Okwu, Wednesday, came under criticism with a call on him to immediately tender an apology to Igbos for trying to rub mud on the image and character of the former Biafran leader.

The party said should Okwu fail to tender apology to Ndigbo for daring to call Ojukwu an “Extrimist” he should be ostracized for showing disrespect to the late leader of the party.

Okwu had in his post-election speech at the convention of APGA in Awka, Anambra State last Monday, described Ojukwu as an extremist saying his leadership of the party would adopt non-extremists philosophy of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He said that “political reality in Nigeria does not favour extremism.”

According to him, the reality of the time must be faced, even though he would not like to out-rightly dump the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s seeming extremist stance in matters concerning Ndigbo. “Zik was known for not blowing too hot on political issues, he was not an extremist, and that philosophy will guide APGA henceforth,” said Okwu.

But reacting to the statement yesterday, Chief Victor Umeh who was restored to office as National Chairman of the party by the Court of Appeal Enugu on Monday, said that Okwu should apologize to Ndigbo for casting an undeserved aspersion on their revered leader failing which he should be ostracized.

Umeh, who addressed a press conference in Enugu, stated that it was the height of insult and irresponsibility for Okwu to dismiss Ojukwu and his struggle for emancipation of Ndigbo as an extremist, noting that but for Ojukwu’s struggle Okwu and millions of Igbo wouldn’t have been alive today.

He said that it was even a greater insult for Okwu to stand on the platform of APGA, which Ojukwu fought and laboured to wean, and denigrate him while Anambtra State Governor, Mr. Obi, who he said was the greatest beneficiary of Ojukwu’s struggle, sat down and watched.

He recalled that Okwu was expelled from APGA alongside Chief Chekwas Okorie, the former Chairman of the party, on alleged perfidy and attempt to sell Obi’s mandate and that Ojukwu as a disciplinarian supported their expulsion.

“For Maxi to come out now to describe our great respected leader both in Nigeria and internationally as an extremist goes to show you the level of destruction that he is planning for APGA.

“From what he said, he has defined a new vision for APPGA, which is a vision of moderation. Ojukwu was never an extremist, Ojukwu was a man who stood very strongly for justice, a man who stood very strongly against injustice, a man who stood aginst oppression of people, a man who stood for equity and fairness, a man who stood for rule of law, a man who stood for democracy.

“It is an abomination for any person who claims to be standing on the platform of APGA to describe Ojukwu’s virtues as extremist. This is blasphemy of the highest proportion and those of us who worked with Ojukwu as our leader in APGA, those he left APGA in their hands will not stand by and watch and see a man who does not have any political character or vision begin to describe Ojukwu in such denigrating words; I call on not just APGA members but Ndigbo in general to ostracize Maxi Okwu until he retracts that statement and renders unreserved apology to Ndigbo.” he said.

On Okwu’s remarks that the appeal court ruling that granted a stay of execution of Justice Innocent Umezurike’s high court judgment and restored Umeh as National Chairman of the party was an exercise in futility, Umeh said that it was further demonstration of the fact that Okwu was not familiar with the law even though a lawyer.

He said that the case had declarative and injunctive elements, adding that even though the court was right to say that it has no business to stay the declarative orders made by the Enugu high court, it had powers to stay the injunctive orders which removed him from office, which was what the appellate court did.

Umeh stressed that the appeal court also considered the fact that his appeal was based on jurisdiction of the trial court to handle the case in the first instance, which according to common law practice ought to have made Justice Umezurike to disqualify himself.

On the claim by Umeh and Governor Obi that their national convention was valid, Umeh said that what they did was a nullity and that many documents were forged to deceive INEC into coming to observe the convention, even though, INEC’s observation of any convention does not confer validity on the process as even INEC itself can still reject it after studying the reports as it did in the case of PDP.

He said that in due course Okwu and his co-travelers would be committed to prison for alleged forgery.

ojukwu isnt God, anyone can call him anything they want, and Umeh isn't the king of igbos and should relax.

This opportunistic idiots should leave our Ikemba in peace to rest. Why should Ndigbo ostracise an unknown guy for having an opinion? Ikemba is our finest icon dead or alive but not our Chineke and never lived his entire life as one too.
The bedrock of Igbo way of life is based on freedom to express your opinion among your peers, no matter your statu, background and so on, even when your opinion is not worth airing.
Hence we never ascribed to one person lording it over everyone else,no matter how powerful or rich. Funny how certain pinheads like Umeh never ever learn from the past, as he made himself, another Chekwas Okorie.

Why the heck is this m0r0n using words like 'blasphemy' and 'abomination'?! Since when did Ojukwu turn into a deity?

APGA leaders keep making a laughingstock of themselves. Why has someone with brains now waded into this Chekwas Okorie/Victor Umeh brouhaha? Na by force to be party chairman?

so many errors from the journalist. I pray their war of words will go on so soludo will be more position to dethrone them in 2014

Ojukwu extremist At last some people get it

dayokanu: Ojukwu extremist At last some people get it

Dayolodo

I hope you do not want to die as a dummy. Have you seen or heard of a leader who meant really well for his\her people that is not an extremist?

Dede1: Dayolodo

I hope you do not want to die as a dummy. Have you seen or heard of a leader who meant really well for his\her people that is not an extremist?

Dendemoron
So you sef now agree that Ojukwu was an extremist like Biko Haram

dayokanu:
Dendemoron
So you sef now agree that Ojukwu was an extremist like Biko Haram

dayo fi awon ara biyi sile

Ojukwu glaringly saw today's nigeria.He saw a project that was bound to fail and he fought to save today's children from the predicaments.But the devil had an upper hand,momentarily.Because the fight is still on.

Nigeria as a country has no purpose,no constitutions,no principles and objectives.It is country ran by those who does not have a clue of what a country means.More like a union of fools pursuing foolish goals.

dayokanu:
Dendemoron
So you sef now agree that Ojukwu was an extremist like Biko Haram

Dayolodo

Leadership requires an iota of extremism, olodo. For once in your sorry life, I urge you to act like a scholar. Good to hear from you again and it is delightful to note you were not among the unfortunates ones stabbed in one of those backwaters called town in Texas.

Dede1: Dayolodo

Leadership requires an iota of extremism, olodo. For once in your sorry life, I urge you to act like a scholar. Good to hear from you again and it is delightful to note you were not among the unfortunates ones stabbed in one of those backwaters called town in Texas.

Dendemoron Are you saying Ojukwu is an extremist?

When you dey travel go that cesspit called Nigeria again sef

I wan make you help me buy Alomo bitters come

Calling the late Ikemba of Nnewi an extremist is no big deal, afterall he stood in for the Igbo race when they needed him most and he remains a HERO to them till eternity!

Azikiwe and Ojukwu are both great men. But we know whose ideology ndi igbo would follow. Most Igbo people are more pro Ojukwu philosophy, than Azikiwe philosophy. I respect Azikiwe but don't really like the legacy of his version of pan-africanism. I am pan African but with a different approach. Home comes first. Alaigbo is the heart and soul of Africa. So if Okwu is pro-ZIK, I guess he would gain little support from ndi-igbo. Umeh is clearly a better politician. You see how he avoided casting aspersions at the great ZIK, even though he may not agree with some of his ideals.

tomakint: Calling the late Ikemba of Nnewi an extremist is no big deal, afterall he stood in for the Igbo race when they needed him most and he remains a HERO to them till eternity!

Why are you talking about yourself in 3rd person

Isn't Umeh an Osu name? Are Osu's still not discriminated against? Maybe that is why the guy is trying hard these days to get accepted. Shame on Eziachi for this Igbo freedom speech

Eziachi: This opportunistic idiots should leave our Ikemba in peace to rest. Why should Ndigbo ostracise an unknown guy for having an opinion? Ikemba is our finest icon dead or alive but not our Chineke and never lived his entire life as one too.
The bedrock of Igbo way of life is based on freedom to express your opinion among your peers, no matter your statu, background and so on, even when your opinion is not worth airing.
Hence we never ascribed to one person lording it over everyone else,no matter how powerful or rich. Funny how certain pinheads like Umeh never ever learn from the past, as he made himself, another Chekwas Okorie.

2mch: Isn't Umeh an Osu name? Are Osu's still not discriminated against? Maybe that is why the guy is trying hard these days to get accepted. Shame on Eziachi for this Igbo freedom speech

Are in support of osu. I thought this topic has been put to rest long ago. Alaigbo have said no to this osu thing. If you people push it, we would have to follow up with action. Igbo is Igbo. Osu is past tense.

redsun: Ojukwu glaringly saw today's nigeria.He saw a project that was bound to fail and he fought to save today's children from the predicaments.But the devil had an upper hand,momentarily.Because the fight is still on.

Nigeria as a country has no purpose,no constitutions,no principles and objectives.It is country ran by those who does not have a clue of what a country means.More like a union of fools pursuing foolish goals.

Split the damn country, thats What I say.

Eziachi: This opportunistic idiots should leave our Ikemba in peace to rest. Why should Ndigbo ostracise an unknown guy for having an opinion? Ikemba is our finest icon dead or alive but not our Chineke and never lived his entire life as one too.
The bedrock of Igbo way of life is based on freedom to express your opinion among your peers, no matter your statu, background and so on, even when your opinion is not worth airing.
Hence we never ascribed to one person lording it over everyone else,no matter how powerful or rich. Funny how certain pinheads like Umeh never ever learn from the past, as he made himself, another Chekwas Okorie.

For once I agree with you. IMHO, both men should be ostracized...all the potential APGA could have had, consumed by the incessant childish squabble between these two groups.

This man is a clown,he thinks using Ojukwu's name will bring sympathy to him.
Anumanu

django1:

Why are you talking about yourself in 3rd person

Even your 'partners in crime' like dayokanu, desola, ilugunboy, eko ile, inufele and some other goats tried it in time past here, it didn't work so na you go come make sense? Try something else son

tomakint:
Even your 'partners in crime' like dayokanu, desola, ilugunboy, eko ile, inufele and some other goats tried it in time past here, it didn't work so na you go come make sense? Try something else son

Don't flatter yourself dude, am not interested in bickering with you.

django1:

Don't flatter yourself dude, am not interested in bickering with you.

You are django1 don't make me think you are an 'almajiri' I am not interested in 'euphemism'!

Yes indeed he is an extremist but
A heroic one
A brave one
A relentless one
A fearless one
A determined one &
A caring one.
May his soul rest in peace.
Okwu and Co must not play politics with d image of d great Ikemba Eze Igbo gburu-gburu or else...

texazzpete:

For once I agree with you. IMHO, both men should be ostracized...all the potential APGA could have had, consumed by the incessant childish squabble between these two groups.

APGA had potential? Thats a new one.

Any random gathering at Pamy joints have potential these days

APGA that was formed by confused individuals to be an appendage of the PDP

The thread will now turn to Dayolodo vs dendemoron