By Amby Uneze in Owerri
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has declared that those joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) newly should not cause confusion in the party instead, they should promote the ideals of the party to achieve success.
Addressing stakeholders of the party at the Imo International Conference Centre (IICC) in Owerri yesterday, Okorocha maintained that his major reason of leaving his former party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to APC was to help build the country instead of remaining in a party that was only in Igboland.
While reminding those who came to the party newly to maintain peace and work for the greatness of the party in the Southeast, he announced that he has relinquished leadership of the party in the zone to former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, as the new leader of the party in the zone.
He also urged other party leaders in the zone to support President Muhammadu Buhari to do his second term of eight years.
Those who attended the meeting included Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume, George Moughalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, Eze Madumere, Osita Izunaso, members of the NWC of APC and other prominent politicians in the zone. The key figures present met behind closed doors before the meeting proper.
Okorocha said: “Now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us. There is a vacuum of leadership in the South-east APC. I am a governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are ministers, hence the importance of Nnamani coming to the party at this time. I decline the leadership of Ndi-Igbo in APC. With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the South-east has been answered. Nnamani is the leader of APC in the South-east.”
He continued: “Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndi-Igbo political direction. Those who have joined the party or who want to join should do so to build the party and not to cause confusion. APC is the right party for the Igbos, and the only party that can guarantee Igbo presidency.”
For him, “we are going to support President Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndi-Igbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra State election to show that APC has arrived in the South-east zone. The Igbos played bad politics in 2015. Today, we have lost a lot. We are not anywhere because of our bad politics.”
Okorocha also disclosed that three serving governors in the Southeast are in touch with him and will soon join APC, adding that being the only APC governor in the zone does not give him joy, and advised that other political leaders in the geo-political zone should take advantage of the moment and come into APC.
In his speech, Nnamani said the Igbos need more of their leaders at the national leadership of the APC where decisions are made, and even at the National Assembly and other strategic areas and levels.
The former Senate President said: “Some of us going to APC are not doing so because of hunger, but in the interest of the Igbos. We should play politics of ideas, and avoid abusive words. Ndi-Igbo do not have the ingredients for opposition politics. We do not have the media or business or money to play opposition politics, but we won’t ask for handouts.
“How the Yorubas voted in 2015 should be an eye-opener. They voted both sides, but the South-east put their eggs in one basket. I am not of the view that everybody should be in APC, but those who have seen the need should do so. If Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in APC, he should be commended. We are worst enemies of ourselves. If we work together, we will go very far. This is the time to play national politics.”
Nnamani explained that “some people could say we have the Deputy Senate President, but he does not attend the meeting of APC caucus where important decisions are taken. We must think ahead. The benefit of that office is therefore personal and does not enhance the political fortunes of the South-east people.”
In a quick reaction on the part of Ndigbo, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha described those leaders as not representing or speaking for the South-east people.
He maintained that they cannot represent or speak for the zone because it was in their usual character to run from one party to another.
Ihedioha said: “They cannot be role model and obviously cannot represent our people. None of these men have been consistent with one political party.
