A gaffe during his goodwill message at the All Progressives Congress (APC) council polls campaign, is proving costly for a former Ebonyi House of Representatives Member, Chief Darlington Okereke.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okereke during the rally at Ohaozara Local Government Area (LGA) on Tuesday mentioned P–for Peoples Democratic Party when he wanted to hail the audience with APC slogan.
The slip, however, stirred the ire of the state APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha who viewed it as intentional.
Okereke further incurred the anger of the party chairman when he sent words to the state governor to sustain his relationship with his predecessor and Minister of Works, Chief David Umahi.
Okoro-Emegha during his remarks expressed dismay with Okereke’s gaffe and subsequent advice to the governor concerning his relationship with his predecessor.
“There are people who mention PDP and at the same time APC yet enjoy the goodies from our party. We know those who cause trouble and turn to ask who caused the trouble.
“No one should repeat this scenario especially in councils where this campaign has not been conducted,” he said.
He also chided Okereke for advising the governor on his relationship with his predecessor, noting that such amounted to instigating crisis.
“No one can truncate the peaceful relationship between the governor and the minister even people from the former’s home council, Izzi.
“No one should further advise the governor on the relationship because this party does not want disunity but unity,” he said.
Okereke, while speaking with newsmen insisted that the slip of mentioning P, before APC was only a mistake with no harm intended.
“I still revere the state chairman as the father of the party but in this life, mistakes occur.
“The minister comes from this LGA and I only expressed my happiness over his sustained relationship with his predecessor.
‘I meant no harm and not worried over any insinuation attached to my statement,” he said.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Patricia Obila, who represented the governor, thanked Ohaozara people for their huge turnout and urged them to vote for the APC candidate.
“Your worthy son Umahi, gave the state his son Nwifuru as successor and he has proven to be a worthy son.
“Nwifuru has been judiciously implementing the peoples charter of needs mantra and the people are happy to have him as their leader,” he said. (NAN)
