Automatic Ticket: APC chieftain blasts Kalu

…Pro-Buhari group inaugurated
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia state Prince Paul Ikonne, has urged the former governor in the state Chief Orji Kalu, not to comment on any issue that concerns corruption as there is no looters under the present administration.

Speaking on Sunday at the inauguration of Abuja chapter of pro-Buhari’s group, Ndigbo for Buhari 2019, Ikonne, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, also warned the leadership of APC to be wary of Kalu’s antics ahead of 2019 general elections.

Reacting to Orji Kalu’s comment that President Buhari is not interested in automatic ticket, Prince Ikonne said the former governor to keep quiet because he is not the spokesperson to the president.

He said: “It is unfortunate that Orji Kalu is speaking from both sides of his mouth. Just few days back, the same Kalu was calling on the Abia state governor to join APC and get automatic ticket.

“Kalu in a newspaper report said that there are people who looted NNPC which Mr. President didn’t want to mention their names and that people will stone them, is Orji Kalu the spokesperson of Mr. President”, he queried.

“I advice Orji Kalu to keep quiet because all looters, including Kalu will not go unpunished as long as this administration is concerned.

“As a leader of APC in Abia State and a supporter of Mr. President, I feel compelled to advise Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to desist from acts and utterances capable of discrediting Mr. President and our great party APC”.

He warned that APC is not PPA and as such, the state chairman of APC in Abia State should give Orji Kalu the APC Constitution to read, because I can see he joined APC with PPA Constitution in his brain.

“I call on well meaning Abia people, supporters of Mr. President, APC in Abia State and south –east in general to ignore Orji Kalu and his mindset as we continue to support Mr. President for his second term bid”.

Ikonne alleged that Chief Orji Kalu’s activities were against the interest of the ruling party saying, “most recently, Orji Kalu makes utterances of considering automatic ticket for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu if he joins APC ‘the ruling party will give an automatic ticket to the current Governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu if he chooses to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“This is not only exhibiting ignorance, but disturbing, distractive and against the party’s Constitution”, he said.

Tom Okpe, Abuja