The former Enugu State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ben Nwoye, has cautioned political leaders to avoid incendiary remarks that could ignite chaos within the party and the larger community.
Nwoye stated this in Enugu, in response to a recent statement made by Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, the Southeast National Vice Chairman of the APC, regarding a court order that restricts Barr Ugochukwu Agballah from presenting himself as the Chairman of the APC in Enugu State.
Recall that a High Court sitting in Enugu had issued a legal injunction, explicitly barring Agballah and nine other individuals from claiming any executive roles within the party, a decision rooted in the rule of law.
Nwoye emphasized that Arodiogbu, as a national leader, bears the profound responsibility of fostering unity among party members and should embody the principles of leadership by example. He lamented that statements inciting division have no place in a progressive democracy, where the sanctity of law must prevail.
He articulated that no one is above the law and that a leader of Arodiogbu’s stature ought to be cautious with his words, avoiding declarations that contradict legal rulings and could provoke a dangerous response from the public.
“…when a political leader assumes the role of judge and makes statements that defy legal tenets, inciting the populace to act outside the law, it raises significant concern. Obeying the law must not be contingent on personal gain; we are obliged to adhere to it irrespective of whose interests are at stake.
“As a national vice chairman, Dr. Arodiogbu is obligated to embrace a paternal role, whether he acknowledges it or not; it is neither his prerogative nor right to interpret constitutional matters unilaterally.
“The court has already decreed that Ugochukwu Agballah and certain others are no longer entitled to execute their duties, and they must refrain from accessing APC properties. Any pronouncement from a leader like Arodiogbu serves only to sow seeds of anarchy in Enugu State.
“My credible sources inform me that some individuals, emboldened by Arodiogbu’s statements, are contemplating unlawful actions. APC leaders, irrespective of their individual factions, must exercise caution in their public discourse,” he added.
Nwoye further urged security agencies to remain vigilant, enhancing security measures around the APC’s acting Chairman, Chief Alphonsus Nwafor, the presiding Judge who issued the injunction, and all APC properties throughout the state.
