A pro-Igbo group, the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety), has advised feuding All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) leaders, Governor Peter Obi and Sir Victor Umeh to bury the hatchet and save the party from imminent death.

The advice, contained in a letter sent this morning to the estranged political allies, comes on the heels of yesterday’s Appeal Court Enugu judgement recognising Umeh as the APGA National Chairman.

In the letter signed by Intersociety’s Board Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi and Head, Publicity Desk, Comrade Justus Ijeoma, the group made a strong case for peaceful settlement of the crisis and urged an end to further litigation. It reminded Obi, the incumbent Anambra State Governor, and Umeh that APGA is a legacy which the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu left for the Igbo race, warning that nothing must be done to kill it.

Below is the text of the letter entitled “Time for Peace, Forgiveness, Harmonization & Teamwork”, a copy of which is in the possession of News Express:

“It is recalled Sirs, that our organization wrote similar letter to you sometime in 2012 through our ADR Bureau, over the differences between two of you who were and are still great friends and pro-democracy and rule of law fighters. Sadly, that important letter for reconciliation failed to achieve its frontal aim. Nevertheless, we must commend your acknowledgement of the letter.

Today, our advice, to the effect that alternative dispute resolution, not court is the best way to go about resolving your differences, has come to fruition. Having said this, it is commendable on part of two of you for resorting to court process instead of self-help form of seeking remedies or vengeance.

“It is now time for peace, forgiveness, harmonization & teamwork, which are also in line with the reported outcome of your reconciliatory meeting nursemaid(ed) by Their Lordships-the three Catholic Bishops. It is very important to inform you as pro-Igbo rights group that APGA is the only thing left after Ojukwu as an idol of Igbo Emancipation and Survival in Nigeria. Two of you must not be “Egu Jidesiri ike n’ nwata, mgbe olulu n’ okenye, ohachasia aka ya”. We profusely pray that you shelve your differences and ego and work like a team. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven. Sir Umeh as a Knight of the Church can attest to this. That is the reason why the Church made him a Knight. There should be no more court appeal, name calling, death wishing, sponsored media attacks or invocation of spirits of the dead against each other! It is a raw fact that APGA under Sir Umeh will not win the guber poll without the State political machinery controlled by Mr. Peter Obi.

“Our Informed Advice

“1. Anambra Local Council Poll must be held as fixed or by first week of December 2013. Anambra people deserve credibly elected LGA system.

“2. There should be harmonization in your party’s ward, LGA, State and national structures. The people that make up Ayamelum, Anambra East & West, Oyi and Ogbaru who were mostly affected by last year’s flood disaster must not be disenfranchised having lost their voters cards. They must be recaptured in the forthcoming voter’s revalidation. Also those who have attained the voting age since 2011 and dead voters must be registered; and or deleted.

“3. There should be a compromise between two of you in matters of zoning and anointment of candidates. While Sir Umeh should relax his perceived insistence on anointing one Ifeanyi Ubah as his sole guber candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi should do same on the issue of zoning same to Anambra North. In the eyes of equity, the contest should be let open on the basis of percentage zonal chances. That is to say that Anambra North will have 50% chance to contest; Anambra South 35%; and Anambra Central 15%.

“4. Political criminals must not be allowed a space on Anambra polity again. The riotous political era of 1999 to 2006 must not be allowed to repeat itself in the State. Two of you whose party controls the State political machinery must find ways of containing rising youth militancy in the State. We have evidence that they are being funded and supported by the PGs, traditional rulers, key politicians and some landlords associations especial in Onitsha zone of Ogbaru, Okpoko, Nkpor, Umuchiome-Nkpor, Nsugbe, Nkwere-Ezunaka, Fegge-Onitsha, Onitsha-Ado, Obosi and Ogidi townships. There are also deadly youth groups scattered in places like Aba Park, Onitsha-Owerri Road parks, Niger Bridgehead and Upper Iweka parks. Your government instituted ASTA is also peopled by militant deadly youths. Some of your political aides like office of your Commerce Commissioner make use of them to collect off-government levies.”

•Photo shows late Ojukwu, whose legacy is being threatened by the APGA crisis.

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