Anambra Ex-officials Ready to Leave APGA Due to Severance Pay
By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka
The Anambra State Former Political Appointees (ASFPA), a platform for all the political appointees who served under the former governor Willie Obiano from 2014 to 2022, have threatened to leave the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the incumbent governor, Chukwuma Soludo to another political party if he fails to pay their severance allowance before the end of April,2024.
Speaking on behalf of the group in a town hall meeting in Awka the state capital on Tuesday, the convener ASFP and former SSA to Obiano, Chief Onyeka Owelle Mbaso, said although they had met with necessary stakeholders, including governor Soludo to no avail.
He said they would press on again before they finally join one of many political parties showing interest in paying at least 150% of the severance allowance.
“What amazes me is that we did not work for any of these political parties trying to settle our severance allowance.They understand the plight of their fellow beings.But a major party is ready to take charge.This money is coming on a flat rate as every member will get same amount.As long as you are part of us, worked for Anambra State, even if it is for one hour, you will be paid. We will work with and work for this political party.”
Mbaso, who was the pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the United Kingdom, recalled that the governor’s comments during their meetings last year showed that he saw their efforts towards his election as insignificant, even as politicians from other political parties had hijacked APGA from the ‘real’ members.
According to the appointees, who included former commissioners, Special Advisers (SPAD), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants (SA) and Executive Assistants (EA), the threats became necessary after various efforts made to broker peace with the governor fell on deaf ears.
He, however, urged members to be resolute and faithful as he would continue to reject every attempts to buy him over with either political offers or money until their aims were achieved.
Insecurity and oppositions
Collectively, the appointees decried that the governor has failed to acknowledge the services they rendered selflessly, including their commitments towards his emergence as governor in 2021 amidst the then insecurity and oppositions.
Meanwhile, the group resolved to stand solidly behind Owelle Mbaso until their severance allowance is disbursed.
They also resolved to work with and for any political party that pays their severance allowance.
Severance pay is any form of compensation paid by an employer to an employee after employment has ended.
Voice of Nigeria gathered that People’s Democratic Party (PDP),Labour Party (LP)and All Progressives Congress (APC) are the three major political parties battling to pay the severance allowances of the group but APC seems to be in the lead as its members were around to show solidarity during the town hall meeting.
All efforts by Voice of Nigeria to get the reaction of Anambra State government on this,proved abortive as the APGA state chairman, Me Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, Mr Alex Obiogbolu, the Special Adviser to governor Soludo on political matters did not pick their calls.
Lateefah Ibrahim
