[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator -Elect Chief Orji Kalu has called for investigation into the alleged anti-party activities on some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East before and during the 2019 general elections. Kalu made the call on Saturday in Enugu during the zonal stakeholders’ meeting of the party.

The former governor said that he had it on good authority that some party chieftains in the zone sabotaged genuine efforts of the party by aligning with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He called on the leadership of the party in the zone to immediately raise a committee to investigate the allegations.

“One of the leaders of the party outside this zone told me that some of our chieftains including serving ministers negotiated with PDP governors to allow our party 25 per cent of vote cast at the polls. “We have to fish out the people that said our party cannot afford 25 per cent vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and punish them.

“They sabotaged us. We cannot be working for the party and look like fools. Some of us worked but a few went to Abuja to say we cannot deliver,” he said.

Kalu said that such circumstance affected the performance of the party in the zone in the last election. “There is no way the APC could not have won states like Abia and others but some of our leaders did this. We have to reveal and suspend them,” Kalu said.

Also speaking, Sen. Chris Adighije, said that though the forces against the APC during the poll in the zone was enormous but they made great achievements through hard work.

“The forces were against us in Abia State but we won seats in the National and State Assemblies. If some people negotiated for 25 per cent on behalf of the party, we have to fight back,” Adighije said.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu described the performance of the party in the zone during the polls as a `great improvement’ from the 2015 scenario.

Onu, who is the leader of the South East APC Caucus, said that the performance might have been below expectations.The minister commended the leadership of the party in the zone for convening the meeting, adding, “if we can come together, we can surprise Nigerians as they believe we cannot work together.

“Let us unite so that those forces outside with the intention of dividing us will not succeed.

“I see a very bright future for Ndigbo if we can unite,” Onu said.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the APC National Vice Chairman, South East, Mr Emma Eneukwu, described the just concluded polls as a difficult one for the party in the zone.

Eneukwu said that their opponents tried to incapacitate them “but we came out victorious. “We are proud of our members that won various elective positions and it would have been a shame if they could not win,” he said.

The vice chairman said that some leaders of the party outside of the zone were fighting to infiltrate and cause division and confusion in the zone. He called on members of the party to work as one, adding that the meeting was aimed at fostering unity in the zone.

Grassroots Publishers reports that participants at the meeting supported the investigation of the alleged sabotage by some party chieftains.

The meeting then went into a closed-door interaction and as at the time of filing this report, the decision whether or not to set up the investigation has not been communicated to the press

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc with operations in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the USA and Paris, over the weekend, celebrated 70 years of operations in an event that was as exciting as it was nostalgic. 

Clients, friends and well-wishers from all works of life joined the UBA Group led by the Chairman Mr Tony O. Elumelu, to commemorate 70 years of legacy with the organisation which has over the decades, emerged as one of Africa’s topmost financial giants. The platinum anniversary of UBA was combined with the bank’s annual CEO awards ceremony as members of staff from all 23 countries of operations who had excelled over the past year were rewarded in the midst of thousands of guests.  

In attendance at the epic night of activities, were royal fathers, captains of industry, political leaders, clients and friends of the bank.  Some of the guests present were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye, Enitan Ogunwusi; the Emir of Kano represented by the Sarkin Shanun of Kano, Alhaji Shehu Mohammed; Former and Present Governors of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and Prof Ben Ayade; Governors-elect of Lagos, Ogun and Kwara States, Babajide Sanwo-olu,  Dapo Abiodun and AbdulRahman AbdulRazak. 

Also present were Pastor Tunde Bakare; Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Otunba Gbenga Daniels; Chief Segun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Dr Jim Ovia; Oba    Otudeko; Nnamdi  Okonkwo; Rasheed Olaoluwa, amongst many others.  

Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babaginda who could not attend the event sent in letters of congratulations to commend the bank on its landmark achievements. 

The Chairman, UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, accompanied by his wife Dr. Awele, remarked that UBA remains a leading financial institution on the continent and hitting the 70th year mark was a laudable achievement.  

He said, “It is a time to celebrate UBA’s rich heritage and legacy over 70 years and to tell everyone who has contributed to what UBA is today, that we appreciate all they have been doing and how they have ensured that the investment put into the bank over the past decades have paid off.”  

Tony Elumelu who invited all past chairmen, board members and management as well as senior staff both past and present on stage said  “These are cherished moments for us, and we’d like to thank all of you who have made it possible for us to be where we are today. Thank you to everyone, our customers, stakeholders and those who have passed through UBA and worked hard to lay a solid foundation for creating a foremost institution. It is an evening worth celebrating for us all. 70 years is a huge number, a milestone achievement” he enthused. The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka,  spoke about the banks’ achievements over the past 70 years and some of its objectives for the coming years,  commending staff  for their hard work and resilience that have contributed to UBA retaining its position as Africa’s top bank of choice.  

“Every year, it is our tradition to appreciate our people who have put in their very best and gone far and beyond the call of duty to deliver excellent services to our customers and this year is even more exciting as we celebrate 70 years of our existence. Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman of Zenith bank, commended the management and staff of the bank, adding that “UBA remains one of the greatest banks in Sub Saharan Africa. UBA is built to last. I heartily congratulate all staff and shareholders. I should have bought UBA shares but I guess it is not too late to do that’ he stated.  

At the celebrations, the story of UBA was depicted in the Tony Award winning Broadway musical of the Lion King. Serengeti depicts the story of the young cub who grew into a strong Lion, in spite of the odds, and empowered all the other animals in the jungle. Great performances by A-list artists such as ‘science students’ crooner, Olamide, Phyno, Patoranking, Dbanj and female sensation, Tiwa Savage entertained the audience of over 2500 guests. The surprise act which ended the night on a high, was the performance by award winning Nigerian artist, Wizkid who delivered nothing but the best in entertainment.