Christain Okeke, in this report, takes a look at the future of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the party which the late Dim Emeka Ojukwu served as leader before his demise and the factors that may determine the survival of the party.A fact which remains sacrosanctis that the prolonged illnessand eventual death of the respected leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, had its toll on the vibrancy of the party. This becomes noticeable when one considers the immeasurable vigour which the charismatic and energetic former Biafran warlord brought to bear in ensuring that APGA survived and fulfilled its dreams.It is evident that the late Dim Ojukwu politically succeeded in embedding his personality into the inner fibres of the party. In fact, during his lifetime, Ojukwu was regarded as the symbol of the party. His personality, popularity, influence, charisma and wide acceptance among his people of Igbo extraction not only gave APGA an edge, but also positively defined the continued relevance of the party, particularly in the South-East geopolitical zone.In the tumultuous days of APGA, Ojukwu significantly played father's role and gave the party, registered on June 24, 2002, a political direction. Obviously, many aggrieved party members, who had disagreed with the leadership of the party over its chairmanship, were made to either swallow their pride or discard dragging the party through the mud, all for the respect they had for Ojukwu. This was also attributable to the possible fear of drawing the ire of the people of the Igbo race who view such actions as an affront on the man regarded as the symbol of Igbo nation.That did not presuppose that leadership crisis that rocked the party subsided, as a hard-bent few still held the party to 'ransom' for years. Actors in the tussle, notably the founding chairman of the party, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and his supporters refused to be caged all in their alleged quest to preserve the soul of APGA. Despite their strict insistence on 'getting the leadership of APGA right,' even to the extent of instituting numerous court cases against the party, they, nonetheless, made it clear that their actions were never an affront on the now late warlord.Historically speaking, APGA has proven to be a cat with nine lives, having survived the stormy long and unnecessary intra-party squabbles which threatened to tear it apart and drown its objectives. Since its first national convention of January 19, 2003, at the old parade ground in Garki, Abuja, and especially from December 15, 2004, the party had gone through series of pathetic leadership troubles.The party, no doubt, has faced survival challenges, just like many of the other political parties. But the issue which remains on the lips of many pundits is, how and whether the party would be able to weather the storms that are imminent with the death of Ojukwu.Already, Ojukwu's absence during campaigns for 2011 general election was believed to have negatively affected the fortune of the party which, obviously, did not put up impressive outing it must have planned. The party, at a point, was believed to be bereft of clear direction and leadership. This is in spite the efforts by its national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, to provide leadership for the party and ensure that its fortune improved.Even with elections coming up in some states both this year and in 2012, it is clear that APGA is not working with the level of zeal that could convince pundits that it is really determined to capture more states beyond Anambra and Imo.As a result, analysts maintained that they did not see the party winning the gubernatorial seats in Edo, Ondo, Adamawa, Cross River and Bayelsa states.Already, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been declared winner of the Kogi gubernatorial election conducted in the state recently with some people actually doubting if the APGA had participated in the poll at all. No doubt, the ill-preparations for and possible non-participation in the upcoming polls in Edo, Ondo, Adamawa, Cross River and Bayelsa states will definitely have negative impacts on the future of APGA, especially in its quest to be embraced a national party. According to many opinion experts, there is no way APGA can convince the people that it is a national party when it engages in 'restrictive politics' and fails to mobilise and win states outside the South-East region. Correcting the impression in the minds of many that the party is a regional one remained a big hurdle for the party.In the mean time, all eyes seemed on the party to see whether it can throw up a leader who comes from a zone outside the South-East with the death of Dim Ojukwu. Whether the party will allow the pendulum of emergence of its leader to swing to other zone, other than the South-East zone, is a puzzle that only time will unravel.With the demise of its leader, pundits believe that the first hurdle facing the party is producing a leader who will be a unifying factor. The immediate headache of the party, perhaps after the burial of Ojukwu, would be looking inwards to bring up a man with charisma, resilience, virtue and energy of the late Ikemba, as it does appear at the moment that no one within the folds of APGA fits perfectly into his shoes.Pundits equally believe that the party may find it difficult to recover from the shock of the demise of its leader in a record time. For now, it is believed that the party will work relentlessly with the South-East Governors' Forum, Ojukwu's family and other concerned stakeholders to accord a befitting burial for its former leader. With focus now on according Ojukwu a befitting burial, it is expected that issues that bother on the progress of the party would be put to rest, at least for the moment.However, there is no gainsaying that the APGA must have to work to expand its acceptance and increase its membership as fast as it could. Perhaps, one of the challenges which a new APGA leader will face is in the area of ensuring that its membership strength improves both within the five Igbo states, and extending to other geopolitical zones. Apart from the fact, the incoming leader is also expected to prioritise possible reconciliation of all the aggrieved groups within the party. Achieving that, though, according to some opinion experts, remains a herculean task.But the fear of many revolves around how the APGA, without the leadership qualities of the Ikemba of Nnewi, will be able to address any party squabble which may crop up at any time. Nipping such frictions in the bud could be the best possible option.But whether that would work remains another issue. From all indications, it is evident that the future is not all rosy for APGA, as it has many challenges to battle with. In all, the expectation is that it will overcome the stumbling blocks in its part so as to remain politically relevant.Should performance by the party in subsequent polls turns out abysmal, it, then, faces possible deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC.) The hope is, however, that the party emerges stronger from its scaring challenges.Ideally, many have insisted that aggrieved stakeholders in the APGA project would have to make some form of sacrifice as their last respect for the highly-respected the late Ojukwu and sheath their swords in the overall interest of the party. Now, no doubt, is the time to do away with factors that fan the embers of discord in the party and everything should be done to encourage members to work towards moving the party to an enviable position.Some also believe that, perhaps, the greatest respect that APGA party members can accord to its demised leader is to work towards capturing the presidency in future polls. That, they believe, would catapult the party to the position it had dreamt to occupy, but which has remained elusive.Until this happens, the party's future in the polity of the nation may be on the line and the onerous task of building up the party remains at the doorsteps of its aggrieved leadership and faithful. Indeed, time will tell, if their actions and inaction would intensify Ojukwu's efforts while alive or make the late Ikemba turn in his grave.
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