*Now highest ranking APC chieftain
in zone
By Our Reporter
Last week’s defection of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC) has changed political permutations of the southeast zone, The Authority can authoritatively report.
Last weekend, Anyim, the first and only Igbo so far to serve as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) led several PDP and Labour Party (LP) bigwigs to declare for the APC.
The event, which held at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki, had in attendance APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma; Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, state APC chairman, Stanley Meghan and other party chieftains.
Ganduje, who represented President Bola Tinubu, said he was delighted to welcome Anyim to the “largest political party in all of Africa,” and expressed the hope that the politician would bring his experience to bear on APC’s fortunes.
“Be rest assured that we will give you equal opportunity like old members of our party so that you can come to the table with your huge experience and followership,” stressed Ganduje.
The Authority gathered that, by the APC national chairman’s promise to grant Anyim “equal opportunity like old members,” the former Senate President has, in line with Article 12.2 (a) of the APC Constitution, automatically become a member of the party’s board of trustees.
The Authority further gathered that even though the southeast APC has another former Senate President in the person of Ken Nnamani in its fold, Anyim, however, is ranking, having been Senate President before Nnamani. Besides, he served as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, a feat no Igbo has achieved.
APC sources told The Authority that Anyim’s entry into the party is being viewed by the party’s national leadership as a big plus for the party in the southeast and Ebonyi in particular, where many still harbour anti-APC sentiments.
They drew comparisons between when David Umahi, as a sitting governor, joined APC, and the turnout at Anyim’s detection, including the calibre and number of politicians who defected alongside the former Senate President.
“Compare the huge crowd that turned out to witness Anyim’s defection to the measly one, if there was any, that greeted Umahi’s defection. Our national chairman was very impressed, particularly with Anyim’s move and promise to bring all of Ebonyi under one political family,” offered a party officer.
“I can tell you that even though it was Anyim who in 2015 singlehandedly made Umahi governor, the same person isn’t too comfortable that his godfather has joined APC.
“Left to Umahi, he would rather Anyim didn’t join the APC so that he would remain the only cock crowing in the party.
He knows that Anyim is a political iroko that would so easily overshadow him. We in the APC are happy that the southeast zone of the party now has a leader that would give the much-needed direction,” he added.
Justifying Anyim’s defection, a political associate of the former SGF said they were unhappy with the shabby manner PDP treated his political mentor in the party’s last presidential convention which saw a former vice president Atiku Abubakar emerge as flagbearer.
He said, “Yes, it is true that PDP offered Senator Anyim the platform on which he became senator, Senate President, and SGF. It is also true that, after eight years of President Buhari, the general sentiment was power shift to the South, especially the southeast.
“Instead of sticking to its zoning formula, PDP looked the other way, paving the way for southerners to feel betrayed. This led to a chain of events, including the defection of Peter Obi. This was what paved the way for Bola Tinubu to become President. As things stand, PDP doesn’t seem to have learned any lesson. So there’s nothing wrong with Anyim joining APC,” he declared.
