Founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has accused Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, of pursuing a political vendetta against former governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Okorie made the allegation in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to what he described as Soludo’s repeated criticisms of Obi.
The APGA founder alleged that Soludo had used his support for President Bola Tinubu as a platform to attack Obi, despite the former Anambra governor’s continued show of respect towards him.
“I have watched with disgust and utter disappointment, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s vicious and vile vendetta against Mr Peter Obi,” Okorie said.
He added that Obi had continued to extend “his usual courtesies and respect” to Soludo despite what he described as the governor’s “vituperations” against the NDC presidential candidate.
Okorie traced the alleged animosity between the two politicians to three major political developments.
He cited the 2009 Anambra governorship election as the first, when Obi, then seeking a second term, defeated Soludo, who contested the election.
“Peter Obi won the election resoundingly and beat Soludo to a distant third position. This is Peter Obi’s first ‘offense’ to Soludo,” he said.
According to Okorie, the second development was Soludo’s disqualification from the APGA governorship primary in August 2013, conducted under the leadership of Chief Victor Umeh.
He alleged that Soludo had blamed Obi for his exclusion from the primary.
Okorie identified the third issue as the APGA senatorial primary for Anambra Central ahead of the 2023 general election, when Umeh failed to secure the party’s ticket before subsequently winning the seat on the Labour Party platform.
He attributed Umeh’s eventual victory to Obi’s popularity.
“The above three ‘offenses’ are the real reasons Prof. Chukwuma Soludo swore to bring down Mr Peter Obi by any means possible,” Okorie alleged.
He also referred to Soludo’s 2022 article, titled History Beckons And I Will Not Remain Silent, describing it as a significant point in the governor’s public criticism of Obi.
Okorie further praised Obi’s political standing, describing him as “the most outstanding and the most popular presidential candidate on the presidential ballot”.
He also described a proposed Obi-Kwankwaso ticket as “the most formidable combination in any presidential election in Nigeria after the Shagari/Ekwueme presidential ticket.”
The APGA founder, however, urged Soludo to focus his attention on the governance of Anambra State, arguing that issues confronting residents should occupy the governor’s attention.
“There are several issues challenging the people of Anambra State that are sufficient to keep Prof. Soludo busy. Prof. Soludo should be mindful of the verdict of history,” he said.
Okorie concluded by directly appealing to the governor to end his criticism of the former governor.
“Prof. Chukwuma Soludo leave Mr Peter Obi alone,” he said.
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