Ojukwu who spoke to Sunday Independent in an exclusive interview in Enugu last Fiday also hinted that he would not reject an offer to participate in the proposed national dialogue despite his reservations about the modalities presented by the Federal Government.

He said he would not trade words with the embattled National Chairman of APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie who had accused him of treachery, following his acceptance of appointment as the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees from the Chief Victor Umeh-led faction, stating that he would keep his peace “no matter the level of provocation”.

Ojukwu maintained that he had continued to play the role of a leader and father of the party despite attempts to blackmail him, stressing that the party’s well being remained his primary concern.

He explained that he had accepted the appointment from Umeh’s group because it was the only one of the two camps which had written him to inform him of decisions reached at the two different National Executive Council meetings held by the two factions in Abuja, adding that he believed his stance would help ensure the restoration of peace and stability to the party.

He said, “I will not bandy words with Chief Chekwas Okorie over this matter, I can’t descend to that level. Whatever the opinion Chekwas Okorie has, he is entitled to it, he is a free Nigerian. As far as I am concerned, he is a prominent member of APGA but as you know and as he very well knows, I have paid my dues a long time and cannot descend to the level of exchanging words in national dailies with somebody like Okorie.

The problem Okorie has is the problem most Nigerians have with the usage of words in English language. Coming out with ill-digested vocabulary. When somebody uses the word betrayal, there is a need to create a background of deal or plot or plan which someone else betrays and as far as I can see, Okorie has not shown there was any such thing. I am only interested in the well being of the party and no matter the level of provocation, that would remain my primary concern.”

He stressed that the party would come out stronger from the crisis since many people who were not committed to its well being but had found themselves in it by accident would be forced to leave, adding that he had long expected such developments.

On the proposed national dialogue, the ex- Biafran leader said “President Olusegun Obasanjo should offer more explanations about the nature of the event since the word dialogue in its ordinary meaning connoted a discussion between two persons or groups.”

He said he would have preferred a Sovereign National Conference in which all groups would have equal chance of participation rather than a government appointed body that may not be representative in nature or democratic in action.

However, when asked whether he would turn down an offer to serve on a committee appointed by the government , Ojukwu said, “We went for an election, I stood for president and I would have preferred I was elected but then, Obasanjo came up and was declared winner but having stated that, does that mean I will opt out of Nigeria? We are one country and one people and we all looking for the best for the country. And I am a patriot.