Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) and a chieftain the All Progressives Congress (APC), has responded sharply to Tony Okocha, the Chairman of the ousted Committee of the Rivers APC.
Eze dismissed Okocha’s claims that former Minister Chibuike Amaechi would play a role in removing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office in 2027.
Okocha had recently alleged that there was a plan to position an ally of Amaechi to lead the APC, with the aim of using the party to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
In a statement released on Sunday, Eze cautioned Okocha against leveraging Amaechi for personal gain, accusing him of attempting to capitalize on Amaechi’s name amid a smear campaign orchestrated by those threatened by his influence.
Eze criticized Okocha’s focus on 2027, suggesting it was premature to discuss the future when the present is fraught with immediate challenges.
He remarked, “It is even foolish for a mere mortal like Okocha to be talking about 2027, three years away from today, when no one is sure of the next minute of his life; like the Bible said in James 4:14.”
Eze also challenged Okocha to consult with Tinubu and other APC founders to clarify the current leadership structure within the party, highlighting that Tinubu was designated as the National Leader of APC at its formation, while Amaechi was the South South leader. Despite Buhari’s presidency, Tinubu has retained his position.
He urged Okocha and his supporters to focus on addressing the country’s pressing issues, rather than engaging in fruitless political maneuvers.
Eze accused Okocha of orchestrating a paid protest in support of Tinubu, costing over fifty million Naira, which had little impact after his ouster by the court. Eze suggested that Okocha’s actions were motivated by a desire to stay in favor with his backers rather than contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress.