UPP berates ‘no election’ advocates, promises good leadership

The founder and national chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, has criticised persons rejecting holding of an election in Anambra, describing the position as illogical and unfortunate.

During an interview in Awka yesterday, Okorie said those making such demand were misguided and unaware of the serious consequences.

He argued that the call was unjustified, unacceptable and urged its sponsors to renounce the view and vote for the right candidate in the forthcoming election.

“It is a stupid thing to say that there will be no election in Anambra,” said Okorie.

He further urged people of the state to vote for UPP candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka, saying the contestant represented their yearnings.

He said: “Chidoka will implement the manifesto of the party which guarantees protection. To think that some young people, some of them educated, are campaigning against Igbo participation in an election is unfortunate. It is this election that will bring into office, if they cooperate with UPP as expected, a governor that will reflect their aspirations and protect them as Chief Security Officer.

“UPP is here to tell the masses that we can still have a government and leaders that care about them and put them in the management of their own affairs. But UPP cannot be working to have a people-oriented leadership and those people we are working for are jumping in the street, shouting, ‘no election’. It is very irritating.

Okorie blamed the frustrations of youths on disconnect between leaders and the masses in the southeast.

He said APGA would have provided right leadership had it not been hijacked, assuring that the principles on which APGA was formed had since moved into UPP.

“There is a disconnect between the political class and elders on the one side and the masses including the youth on the other side. It is a gap that is yearning to be closed. It would have been bridged long ago if what happened to APGA did not occur.

“I remember when APGA was formed, it was well received. We rejoiced. But just after two years, some characters thwarted the vision. Being a man of vision, I was ill at heart. I gave up the struggle for leadership of APGA and returned to the drawing board and founded UPP.”