Anambra APC Rejects Soludo’s ‘Progressives Working Together’ Mantra, Says First Lady’s Visit Exposes Hidden Agenda

Anambra State APC Chairman, Senator Emma Anosike

The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed the mantra, “The Progressives Are Working Together,” being canvassed by the Charles Soludo-led All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) administration in the state.

The APC State Chairman, Senator Emma Anosike, said the party was never informed about the planned visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State.

Anosike described the claim that “the progressives are working together” in the state as a political smokescreen by the ruling APGA administration to create the impression of cooperation with the APC while allegedly attempting to hijack the political goodwill and support surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and his re-election bid.

He said the development was particularly troubling because the APGA-led government did not engage the APC state chapter in the planning or organisation of the First Lady’s visit.

“For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together,” he asked.

According to him, genuine political cooperation among progressive forces should be founded on consultation, mutual respect and inclusiveness, rather than unilateral arrangements designed to create political optics.

Anosike, however, stressed that the First Lady’s visit remained an important national and political engagement that should not be compromised by the disagreement.

He therefore urged APC members, supporters and faithful across Anambra State to come out en masse to welcome Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“The visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra was never communicated to the APC in the state,” he said.

According to Anosike, the APC in Anambra State was never informed about the proposed visit and was taken aback upon learning that the wife of the party’s national leader, President and presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter of the party.
“It is indeed strange that the First Lady of the country ,the President and presidential candidate of our great party is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.” he added.

He said the development raised questions about the sincerity of the APGA administration’s repeated claims of cooperation with the progressive political family.

“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture,” he added.