13th February, 2012
Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), says that the passage of Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu would affect the fortunes of the party.
Umeh made the remark while speaking with newsmen on Sunday at the country home of the late Igbo leader in Nnewi on level of preparations for the burial.
He noted that apart from the Igbo nation, APGA would suffer a great loss with the death of Ojukwu.
The chairman maintained that the deceased was the pillar of strength, as well as a unifying and motivating factor for the party and Ndigbo.
Umeh, however, said the party would continue to use Ojukwu’s name with a view to deriving strength and inspiration for growth.
“We, as a party, will continue to use Ojukwu’s name and draw strength to grow. “He was our pillar of strength and now that he is dead, his name will help us to forge ahead.
“ I thank God that the crises that had bedeviled APGA were resolved before our great leader passed on.”
Umeh expressed the confidence that the party would wax stronger as he did not anticipate any further internal squabbles in the APGA, even with the death of Ojukwu.
He explained that arrangements for the funeral would be finalised within the next two weeks, noting that the greatest challenge envisaged for the burial was crowd management.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the expansive country home of the late Igbo leader now wears a new look, while the tomb is under construction.
According to the funeral arrangements, the remains of the departed leader will be buried in Nnewi on March 1.