Two prominent Anambra citizens, Uche Ezechukwu and Joe Igbokwe, have publicly clashed over the fate that befell Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state governorship election concluded last Sunday, December 1.

Ezechukwu, a foremost journalist, newspaper columnist and media relations expert, angered Igbokwe, interim Publicity Secretary of Lagos State APC, when he declared on his Facebook wall that Ngige’s third place finishing in the election won by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Chief Willie Obiano, was caused by his party platform.

“APC should not delude itself on its prospects in Anambra State, now or in the future. The 95,963 votes that Senator Chris Ngige obtained in the just concluded gubernatorial election are owed to his personal stature and standing, and not as a candidate of the APC. The truth is that if Chris Ngige had stood as the candidate of any other party, he would have been the man to beat. He should, therefore, feel grateful to the people of Anambra State that even with the APC contagion, he could still get as many votes,” Ezechukwu wrote on Monday.

Ezechukwu’s position did not go down well with Igbokwe, who replied yesterday, saying: “Elder Uche Ezechukwu says Ngige lost because he is in the wrong Party. Ah okenye na agwo ofe! Is this what Elder Ezechukwu has to offer Ndigbo in the 21st Century? If gold rusts what will iron do? A wise man talks because he has something to say. A fool talks because he has to say something. A friend tells me that a foolish constituency is the hobgoblin of small minds. Clannnishness and political timidity are still ravaging Ndigbo almost 20 yrs after my first book, IGBOS: 25 YEARS AFTER BIAFRA. After 20 yrs my people cannot still understand the dynamics of Nigerian politics.”

This sparked a debate on Igbokwe’s thread that saw both men fighting hard to justify their positions even as people queued up behind them.

Ezechukwu did not waste time in responding. He wrote: “Talk is cheap. Prove Uche Ezechukwu wrong. As a top APC notcher, why could you not make it win at the polling booth in your ward at Nnewi as we did for APGA at my own polling booth?

“Joe Igbokwe, I come from Amesi in Aguata LGA. The House of Rep member for Aguata comes from my umunna and she is PDP. Despite her popularity, we were able to prove to all that APGA is a mass movement when we convinced our people to abandon her party and respond to our call to vote APGA. When the votes were counted, APGA polled 179 to PDP’s 19. At the polling booth at your ward, tell us how APC performed. At least, it wasn’t APGA that ‘rigged’ you out there. How come with your keen understanding of Nigerian politics, APC could not as much as scratch Ifeanyi Ubah’s LP at your ward?”

Igbokwe replied: “Ifeanyi Ubah got the highest votes in Nnewi and we know the reason. APGA did not win Anambra elections and we have our facts and figures so weighty and so monumental that no jury can fault it. Okenye nagwo ofe do not celebrate yet. This election will be repeated. Mark my word.”

Responding, Ezechukwu accused people like Igbokwe of harbouring inferiority complex as they “believe that you are an ethnic jingoist when you play to the interest of your people but are a nationalist when you lick the boots of the others.” “I’d rather remain and die an ethnic jingoist because I must remain with my people,” Ezechukwu insisted.

News Express had on Tuesday broken the story that Ngige has gone to court to challenge Obiano’s victory. No date has been fixed for the hearing of his suit.

•Photo shows Uche Ezechukwu.