Pro-democracy Group Raises alarm on ploy to pitch President Tinubu, APC against Ex-minister, Ogah

By Chijindu Emeruwa

Youths for Progressive Governance  (YFPG), a socio-political group in the fold of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, has frowned at the latest orchestrated plan to blackmail former Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah by political opportunists.

The pro-democracy group noted that the evil machination of these opportunists is to incite President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the APC against Dr Ogah with accusations of sabotaging the party during 2023 general elections held in Abia state as recently displayed by one Nnamdi Oleh.

Recall that Mr Oleh had accused the ex-minister of openly working against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Nkeiruka Onyejiocha and rigged the 2023 elections in his Uturu village in Isiuakwato local government area of Abia state against APC.

He also accused Dr Ogah for sponsoring media bloggers to launch attacks on Senator Kalu who currently represents Abia North senatorial district at the national assembly.

However, Youths For Progressive Governance while reacting in a statement on Tuesday signed by the national coordinator, Comrade Samuel Aguiyi and the Publicity Secretary, Chiamaka Nzomuche,   exnoerated Dr Uche Sampson Ogah from the abysmal performance of the APC in the concluded 2023 elections held across Abia state by the INEC.

The organisation reminded Mr Oleh and his sponsors to heap blames on the party’s failure in the last presidential, governorship, national and state assemblies in Abia to the unpopularity of the State Gubernatorial candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike, and the open treacherous dealings of some APC leaders who were in monthly payroll of the former ruling  government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The organization noted that these self-styled Abia party leaders had truncated many chances of the state chapter of the APC to clinch majority of elective seats in the state and national in past elections held across the 184 electoral ward of the state by the Nigeria electoral commission.

As one of  pro-democracy and political advocacy bodies accredited to monitor the concluded 2023 election in Southeast geopolitical zone by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, the Youths for Progressive Governance informed Oleh and co-travellers that the sterling leadership qualities and  membership of Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah propelled the overwhelming popularity being enjoyed by APC in Abia state and Southeast zone.

The organisation also reminded Mr Oleh that Dr Uche Ogah’s emergence as leader of the party and 2019 Abia Governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress saw the election of party members as members of the State House of Assembly, a feast described as first of it’s kind in history of numerous electoral outings by the party in Abia state.

“Abia APC’s participation in 2019 led the party to record impressive performances in the governorship poll despite the open treachery exhibited by undemocratic elements under the guise of party leaders to sabotage the very opportunity of the party and the then Gubernatorial candidate, Dr Uche Ogah to emerge victorious in the 2019 poll conducted in Abia state.

“It remains on record that Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah mobilized and delivered Abia state to APC at his Uturu ward and local government area(Isiuakwato) in 2019 elections unlike most of these self-styled leaders that failed woefully to canvass support for APC and as well convince the electorates into voting APC in office. The unwholesome characters of these so-called critical party stakeholders was clear manifestation of betrayal, sabotage and distrusts, which the former ruling PDP-led government in Abia contracted and bankrolled them to carry out.

The group recalled during the last 2023 elections held in the state by the nation’s electoral umpire, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah invested huge personal resources to persecute all electioneering campaigns embarked by APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and all other candidates of the party who participated during the last elections in Abia state.

“Not only investing his personal resources in party campaigns, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah mobilized eligible voters across nooks and crannies of Abia state and they reaffirmed their massive supports by overwhelmingly voted and elected  Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as well APC members from Abia extraction as members of the national and state assemblies in 2023. And Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah demonstrated the capacity and spirit of a loyal party member, and equally mobilized  people of Abia North senatorial district that saw Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s election for second term in office.

The group also informed Mr Oleh that legislative redundancy and the sit-tight leadership style of Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejiocha birthed her outright rejection by people of Isiuakwato/umunneochi federal constituency during the house of representatives election held in 2023.

“Insinuating that Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah worked against Onyejiocha is seen as being economical with the truths, and that can’t be justified by Nnamdi Oleh and his paymasters. Obviously, this recent tantrums by this disgruntled Oleh on Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah is borne out of selfish political aggrandizements, and solely orchestrated to taunt the former minister’s sterling leadership qualities and sow seed of discords between President Tinubu, critical Abia party stakeholders and Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. And this coordinated attacks on the foremost Nigerian industrialist is already dead on arrival.

On giant strides recoreded by Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah as Minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Youths For Progressive Governance drew Nnamdi Oleh ‘s attention that Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah facilitated the training of hundreds of indigent Abia sons and daughters in Solid Mineral Processing organized by federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

“Numerous reforms engendered in Nigeria mining sector by the former minister attracted applauses from the then President Buhari during the assessment exercise carried out on federal Ministries, departments and agencies (MDA’s). These reforms initiated by Dr Uchechukwu Ogah fostered increase in internally revenue generation of the ministry which the then government channeled in building critical infrastructures across the geopolitical zones of Nigeria”, the group added.

Continuing, the progressive youth group further drew the attention of Nnamdi Oleh that Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, secured government approval for fully construction of Okigwe-ABSU-Uturu-Akara road, facilitated employment of indigenes of Abia state in ministries, departments and agencies controlled by the federal government, and as well facilitated inclusion of Abia citizens in Social investments and human development programs initiated by government, wherein hundreds of Nigerian youths, elderly men and women were empowered to become business shop owners, and self-productive.

Before his sojourn to public leadership, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah achieved milestones in private sector-driven business investments as he sited his numerous business conglomerates that specialized in food production, oil and gas, manufacturing of different assorted products ranging from plastic chairs, tables etc.

“This industrial revolutions by Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah in Abia state engendered job creation as thousands of youths are currently engaged in business of manufacturing, reducing high rate of joblessness and restiveness commonly associated with youths in the society.

While admonishing opportunitic Nnamdi Oleh to look for lucrative ventures, and refrain from serving as willing tool to sow seed of discords among leaders of the APC in Abia state, the socio-political organization therefore vowed that no amount of campaign of calumny will deter positive efforts and laudable gains recorded Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah in societal development and human empowerments.