Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has advised the people of South-East to forget contesting the presidency in 2019. Okorocha, who was at the presidential villa yesterday where he met with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo behind closed door, said it was proper for the Igbo to support the North in its eight-year rotational tenure.
Speaking to State House Correspondents, Okorocha said: “What I do know is that Ndigbo should talk about presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I think we should support this government. President Muhammadu Buhari has a tenure to work for, four years or eight years, according to the zoning arrangement. Everybody should follow the zoning, although I am not an advocate of zoning,” he noted.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had, last week, called for the South-East to be given a chance at the presidency in 2019. Okorocha explained that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a strong party in the South- East which he and other stakeholders are trying to rebuild. He said rebuilding the party in the South-East will also redefine leadership so that there will be no confusion.
On whether the APC in the South-East was in disarray, the Imo governor said: “We want to have a united party in the South- East.
We are hopeful from all discussions that about two governors will be joining us in the South-East to strengthen the party.
“Right now, we have agreed that Senator Ken Nnamani should lead the party in the South-East to enable us to have a common understanding, along with other leaders like Chief Jim Nwobodo.” Speaking on the denial that three governors in the South will join APC, Okorocha said: “I don’t think it is true, but if it is true it is probably because it is not time.
It could be because I spoke when they were not yet ready.” On insinuations that he (Rochas) is not worth the political leader that they should follow, the governor noted that: “Leadership is not in question; we have agreed the Ken Nnamani should lead. So, it is not about Rochas Okorocha, I am a governor.”
Reacting to Okorocha’s statement, former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said the governor is totally alone, as he has never spoken for Ndigbo.
His words: “Governor Okorocha may not be speaking the mind of the people. I don’t know why he should say that Ndigbo should forget the presidency in 2019.
He is totally alone or working for some people who he adopted as masters. He has never spoken for Igbo. “You can say anything about former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but he is a special being created by God and he should be respected.
The only mistake he made was attempting to go for a third term; otherwise he has been in charge in Nigeria. “He didn’t declare support for Igbo presidency in 2019 just for Ndigbo; even in his own state, Ogun, he suggested that Ogun West should produce the next governor because injustice and discrimination causes all kind of problems.”
National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie advised Okorocha to stop playing politics with Ndigbo as that would not be tolerated. His words: “Okorocha should stop being dishonest to the Igbo people; that will not be tolerated.
I am not threatening him, but he should stop misleading his people. There is nowhere that the APC had a zoning arrangement that 2023 would be the turn of Ndigbo to produce its presidential ticket. If that is so, let him publish it for us to see. “All of us are aware the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through the Ike Ekweremadu committee, recommended the zoning of the party’s 2019 presidential ticket to the North. That is PDP’s policy statement, approved by its national executive and ratified by a convention.
So, I challenge Okorocha to make public, APC’s zoning arrangement, which cedes its 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East. He cannot continue to mislead the people thinking that they are stupid and foolish.
“In fact, he exhibited a sense of inadequacy recently at a meeting that he hosted. In the presence of what you will refer to as eminent Igbo politicians, he dropped the names of three South-East governors, who, he said are set to join APC, but within 24 hours, the governors came out to disclaim that statement.
Whether he likes it or not, an Igbo man will contest the 2019 presidential election, I can assure him of that.” A lawyer and politician, Chief Maxi Okwu, said: “Okorocha’s statement is not unexpected.
He is of the APC and his party is in power at the centre. President Buhari constitutionally is entitled to seek a second term if he so desires and his party, the APC, nominates him. But APC is not the only party in Nigeria.
“Yes it is the dominant party, but it’s not invincible. APC is not popular with the ordinary people of South-East. As matter of fact, the key issue at the heart of Ndigbo is a just and fair federation as envisaged by the founding fathers. It is either that through restructuring or exit by way of a popular referendum.”
Pearl
