The senator representing Anambra Central in the senate, Victor Umeh has declared that has forgiven his state governor, Professor Chukwuuma Soludo, who he accused of commiting a ‘cardinal sin’ against him, when he denied him the ticket to contest the Senate election on the platform of his former party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Senator Umeh who made the declaration in his country home, Aguluzigbo, during the thanksgiving mass to mark his successful political journey from APGA to Labour Party, recalled the critical roles he played during the last Anambra state governorship election that guaranteed victory for Soludo and APGA.
Recall that Umeh who was a former National Chairman of APGA defected to the Labour Party (LP) where he reunited with his former political father, Peter Obi, after he lost the APGA ticket for Anambra Central senatorial election.
He, however, got the Labour Party ticket and emerged victorious during the election and legal battles.
He recalled all the battles fought and travails he went through when he was blocked from flying the Senatorial flag of APGA during the 2023 general election despite having served as the party’s national chairman for 10 years.
He explained that when all odds seemed to be against him in his political journey with his chances foreclosed in APGA, God intervened and made it possible that he reconciled with Mr Peter Obi whom he had been in political estranged relationship for 10 years.
The former APGA national chairman attributed the success recorded in his eventual journey to the Senate to the grace of God and the enormous goodwill of Mr Peter Obi whom he described as his brother.
He recalled how he was paid back in bad coin by the incumbent governor of Anambra State whom after he campaigned vigorously for him, acted as collation officer for him in INEC and eventually delivered him as Governor. He said that he bears no grudges but has handed everything over to God.
According to him, “Labour Party is the party we will use in our political journey. That party that Peter Obi is now the National Leader is our own. I know practically everything about party politics having been APGA National Chairman for 10 years. If this thing going on in Labour Party continues, I will draw my dagger and that party will be quiet. Nothing will happen that will destroy the party.
“God works in mysterious ways. This victory was made possible through the immense goodwill of my brother Peter Obi. I started my political journey with him in 2001, fought all the battles with him, he triumphed, we triumphed too until the enemies of progress came in and separated us but after 10 years, God said, against the wishes of people and men, that two of us will come together again.
“When I was returned as the party flag bearer, I made a speech and it is on record that I said that above all things that God has done for me, none is greater than the reconciliation I’ve achieved with my brother Peter Obi. This is because my disagreement with him was uncalled for at the first instance. It was the handiwork of some people who put spanner in our wheel of progress
“The incumbent governor of the state presently, I was totally involved in his campaign, acted as his collation agent in INEC, delivered him as Governor before the ugly development happened. If what happened pleased God, I wouldn’t have been here today, but it did not please God . Ingratitude is a cardinal sin and it is important I said this so that you can know my stand. I’m not against anybody but in the house of God, what is not proper should be described as what it is.
The thanksgiving mass was presided over by Cardinal Peter Okpaleke of Ekwulobia Diocese and con-celebrated by Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Archdiocese and Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Diocese.
