Umeh succeeded in his scheme to damage Chief Okorie’s long-standing association with Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu. That was Umeh’s reward to Chief Okorie for all he did for him.
What manner of a human being will after worshiping at the grave side of his presumed leader, turns around to publish very horrifying and sordid allegations against the very wife his leader loved so much in his life time? Umeh indeed lacks any modicum of character and conscience.
How come Governor Peter Obi has never for a moment talked about his mandate being compromised by Chief Okorie? So Umeh knows more than Governor Obi when his mandate was at risk?
It speaks volume of Chief Chekwas Okorie’s maturity, character and spirituality that he has put behind him his travails and resumed his cordial relationship and comradeship with all his Associates in the Original APGA in spite of Umeh’s wicked machinations to destroy those relationships.
Many of them have made open confessions about Umeh’s treachery and callousness. For setting Igbo political resurgence backward by several years, Umeh should wait the verdict of Amadioha, the Igbo god of retributive justice.
Governor Willie Obiano should beware of Umeh’s negativity and dangerously pervading awful aura.
On the Peter Obi governorship campaign and election, we are aware that Hon. Chief Nwobu-Alor, Sylvester was the Director General of Mr. Peter Obi Campaign Office while Chief Okorie granted permission to then Assistant National Financial Secretary of APGA South East Zone Hon. Dr. Okey Umeano to serve as the Director General of Peter Obi’s campaigns in Anambra State.
While Chief Nwaobu-Alor managed Peter Obi’s office at Awka, mostly in-charge of logistics the DG who directed campaign activities across Anambra State was Hon. Dr. Okey Umeano.
The National Chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie and the presidential candidate Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu led the campaign in the South East with greater emphasis on Anambra State being Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s State of origin.
Umeh played no visible role in the campaign that led to Peter Obi’s victory contrary to his false claims. Umeh did not address any rally all through the campaign period even for a moment. At the time, Umeh was a very timid and naïve person who lacked self-confidence. He could not address a large audience.
We are aware that up until July 2002 when Umeh joined APGA he did not have an International Passport. But Chief Okorie had gone ahead to include him among his entourage to his extensive tour of United Kingdom and United States of America.
It was at that time that Mr. Peter Obi facilitated securing International Passport for Umeh which enabled him to make the list of Chief Okorie’s entourage for Application for UK and USA travel Visas. This tour of 2002 was Umeh’s first visit outside the shores of Nigeria.
Again it was Chief Okorie who had given Umeh his first international exposure after Mr. Peter Obi gave him his first International Passport.
Chief Okorie had in many interviews expressed the view that the emergence of the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the presidential candidate of APGA rankled the Nigerian military and political establishments. APGA was then viewed as a security issue and therefore targeted for annihilation.
In the calculation of the Obasanjo Presidency at that time, they needed a weak link to decimate APGA. The inordinately ambitious and vicious Umeh was on hand to do the damage.
The Press Conference in which Umeh announced the suspension of Chief Chekwas Okorie and the 2 Deputy National Chairmen – Chief Maxi Okwu and late Dr. Hassan Bello was typical of a coup d’etat.
Umeh as National Treasurer was never in the line of succession in the APGA Constitution but the Presidency influenced INEC under Prof. Maurice Iwuh to recognize Umeh as the acting National Chairman of the party.
The whole nation was bewildered. That INEC action was unprecedented and it is not likely to repeat itself at any time in future since such impunity and brazenness have no place in a civilized democracy.
Umeh’s sponsors knew that the Party would challenge the matter in court and they were ready with all the funds and influence that he needed. Chief Okorie became a victim of a serial travesty of justice.
After 7 years of gruesome and excruciating legal nightmare in various Nigerian courts, Chief Okorie and his associates threw in the towel, returned the APGA certificate of registration to INEC and issued a damning pronouncement on APGA which has haunted the party till this day.
Chief Okorie proceeded to INEC to found the United Progressive Party (UPP) to the admiration of many Nigerians. UPP is now 5 years old and is fast developing into a national movement for the self-determination of Nigeria’s numerous ethnic nationalities.
Perhaps I may just conclude this response by mentioning those that Victor Umeh, in his brief political career which has unfortunately come to an end, shortchanged, betrayed and hurt in different ways and at different times.
Without following any particular order, the following have very painful, sad and regrettable experiences in the hands of one man – Victor Umeh:
1. Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu
2. Ambassador Iyom Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
3. Chief Chekwas Okorie
4. Chief Maxi Okwu
5. Late Dr. Hassan Bello
