Uche Nwosu, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former governorship candidate in Imo state has accredited the declining fortune of the party in the Southeast to poor reward system that undermined founding fathers and old members of the party in preference of new members.
Nwosu said APC leadership abandoned those that planted and nurtured the party in the Southeast and handed over the structure to defectors that never knew how APC was founded.
He insisted that except the party retraces its steps, conducts free and fair primary and declare the winner without manipulation in the forthcoming 2013 general elections and reconcile the aggrieved old members, it may not recover from the self -afflicted crisis before the 2023 general election.
According to him: “What is happening to APC in the Southeast is a result of poor reward system, the party undermined those that worked so hard to plant the party in the zone and instead embraced new comers who do not have what it takes to endear the party to the people. Is the founding fathers of the party are not appeased and handed back the reigns of the APC, the fortune will continue to go down”.
On how to revitalize the party ahead the 2023 elections, Nwosu advised that the party leadership should consult the founding members of the APC in the zone like former Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, Minister of science and technology Dr Ogbonna Onu, George Moghalu, among others and open genuine discussions that will engender genuine reconciliation.
“The party leadership can’t ignore those that worked so hard and invested their resources and time and expect to continue to win elections.
“The party can’t gloss over the fact that all is not well, but all hope is not lost if it can reconcile the aggrieved leaders. What happened in Anambra State governorship election is a confirmation of the fact that the party vied off the original plan but all that can be remedied”.