Veteran Nollywood actor and former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has announced his resignation from the party, in the wake of the protests among members which have trailed the decision by Presidential candidate of the ruling political platform, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pick ex-Borno State Governor, Kashim Ibrahim Shettima as his running mate in the 2023 General Election.
This is also as another chieftain of the APC, in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill, had on Tuesday, resigned his membership of the party over its choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Okonkwo formally tendered his resignation to the APC Chairman of Nkpunano Ward in Nsukka, Enugu State, on Monday 11th July 2022.
According to Okonkwo, failure by the party to live up to its ‘Constitutional vow as true Progressives and Patriots, to eliminate all forms of discrimination and social injustice in Nigeria,’ forced him to make the decision to leave the party.
He recalled that they had lived up to the party’s vow in their ward by ensuring that the Chief Imam of an Army Barrack Mosque was made an executive member of the Ward.
“Those ideals are now alien to the APC, with their unfortunate decision to paint our Muslim brothers in bad light, by insinuating that the Muslims in Nigeria will not accept or vote for a Northern Christian as Vice-President to pair with a Southern Muslim.
“If Muslims could vote voluntarily for Southern Christian Presidents it is then a fallacy to insinuate that they cannot accept a Northern Christian Vice-President.
“This will permanently destroy the political viability of Northern Christians in Nigeria, if allowed to stand. This is in addition to their failure to protect the lives and property of Nigerians, which should be their primary responsibility. The economy is also in tatters,” the statement which contained the resignation read in part.
Kenneth was the convener of the Campaign for Equity and Justice in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, another chieftain of the APC, and political ally of Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, Prince Tonye Princewill, has quit the ruling party over the decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 General Elections by Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu.
In his resignation letter dated July 12, 2022 and addressed to the Chairman of the party in his Ward 3, Royal Ward, Buguma City, Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, Princewill described Tinubu’s choice as ‘totally insensitive,’ noting that it would be a wrong precedence to place political victory over the safety of lives of the electorate.
“Under these dire circumstances, I find no justification to still remain, in good conscience, a member of a political party that subordinates electoral victory, over the safety of lives and the peace of mind of its citizens,” he quipped.
The ally of former State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said Tinubu’s choice of a Northern Muslim connotes that northern Christians have no value.
“I can’t argue for equity in my state and defend inequity in my country.
“While I appreciate my leader Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi and all his efforts, I cannot defend the decision of my party, in fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket, especially at a time like this, against all protestations from well-meaning Nigerians, across religious and political divides.
“It sets a very wrong precedent, it is totally insensitive and even if you win, will prove bad for good governance. Under these dire circumstances, I find no justification to still remain, in good conscience, a member of a political party that subordinates electoral victory, OVER the safety of lives and the peace of mind of its citizens.
“The men and women of our party here in Rivers are the most loyal and faithful supporters I have met. “They know right and they know wrong. And they know me. I enjoyed working with them and I’m so sad to leave.
“But an APC party that totally disregards the basics of the same equity we preach, is alien to me.
“Buhari resisted the same temptation and chose a little known Osinbajo and won.
“By doing this, Tinubu is saying that a Northern Christian has no electoral value. My staying means I agree.
“I wish you well. And I remain grateful to our leader, but I cannot defend the indefensible. And to be totally honest, neither should you,” the statement read in part.
Earlier, Sunday, a chieftain of the APC, and Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, on Legal Matters, Mr Daniel Bwala, had also quit the party in protest over the decision to field Muslim-Muslim candidate and running mate by the political platform.
Bwala announced his decision to quit the ruling party via his Twitter handle on this (Sunday) evening.
“Tonight I officially resigned my membership of @OfficialAPCNg on principles and conviction that I hold so dear. At this time of our national existence, our efforts and our energy should gravitate towards uniting our people,” the party chieftain said.
(The Oracle Today)