A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former chairman in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has cautioned the South East Vice Chairman of the party, Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, over what he called inappropriate utterances capable of causing serious political instability in the state, especially among the party faithful.
Dr. Nwoye made this known to newsmen on Monday during an interview in Enugu.
Recall that a fresh crisis has bedeviled the Enugu State chapter of the party recently when a group of state executive committee members of the party removed the state party chairman, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa, and nine others.
The group, seeing that Barr. Ugochukwu Agballa and his accomplices did not want to leave office, went to court and obtained an ex parte order barring them and his group from answering as executives of the party or coming close to party functions. The court order irked the Zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, who went on national television and took a jibe at the judiciary over the ex parte order before petitioning Justice C.V.C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court with the National Judicial Council.
Speaking with newsmen, Dr. Nwoye said that the national leadership of the party should warn Dr. Arodiogbu against making statements capable of causing a serious crisis in the party. According to him, “Such utterances are reckless and could escalate tensions within the party, leading to instability that we cannot afford.”
He posited that Arodiogbu, as a leader, should be aware that matters already in court cannot be discussed in public, especially in the manner in which he has been doing. “Discussing court matters in public is not only incongruous but also a blatant disregard for legal processes,” he added, emphasizing that this behavior is unacceptable.
Dr. Nwoye further emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum and respect for legal proceedings, stating that any attempt to undermine the judiciary could have far-reaching consequences not just for the party, but for the democratic process as a whole. “We must respect the judiciary’s role in maintaining order and justice; otherwise, we risk undermining the very foundations of our democracy,” he said.
He urged all party members to focus on fostering unity and working towards the common goal of strengthening the party in Enugu State, warning that any actions that contribute to division or instability would be met with appropriate disciplinary measures. “Let us not lose sight of our shared objectives. Unity is paramount, and any conduct that threatens it will not be tolerated,” he concluded.
