The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rochas Okorocha

  • Igbo Presidency: I stand the best chance, says Okorocha

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha Thursday said that he is more favoured to become the first President of Igbo extraction.

    The Imo governor, who spoke during a breakfast meeting with journalists at the Government House, noted that he commands massive followership beyond the Southeast much more than any other Igbo politician.

    Read Also:Okorocha to Buhari: No more defections from APC

    But Okorocha however lamented what he called the pull-him-down attitude among Igbo political elites, stressing that, “it is unfortunate that we the Igbo don’t celebrate our own, we are only interested how to destroy our own”.

    He however disclosed that he will not be relying on the support of  the Igbo to pursue and actualize his Presidential ambition.

    According to him, “I stand a better chance of making the Presidency in 2023 but my greatest challenge will come from the Igbo. It is our character. It will be a foolish thing to imagine that the Igbo will support me”.

    On President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, the Imo governor, disclosed that the Igbo are mobilizing to give him landslide victory.

  • Give non-workers friendly Governors red card, says workers union

    Organised Labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), has asked workers across the country not to re-elect governors who are not workers friendly, but to serve them red card during the forth coming genera, elections for lacking the conscience to do what is right to Nigerian workers.
    In a communique at the end of its 70th National Executive Council meeting, the union asked governors owing staff salaries and pensions to have the fear of God at heart and pay the salaries and stop treating workers in their states as worthless citizens.
    The communique signed by the National President, Comrade Lawrence Amaechi and acting General Secretary, Yahaya Ndako, the union also pass a vote of no confidence on Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State over what it described as his anti Labour policies  in the state.
    While lamenting the increase spate of killings in the country, the union asked Federal Government to urgently address the security challenges, while expressing concern over the delay in concluding the ongoing negotiation on the new National minimum wage.
    The communique reads in parts: “NEC-in-Session resolves that the Union will oppose vehemently any action aimed at delaying this process.
    ” To this end, therefore the NEC urges the Federal Government to match its words with actions so that the high expectations of workers on the implementation of the new minimum wage would be realised on or before September, 2018. Failure, the entire members of the Union will not take it with levity.
    “The NEC-in-session condemns in strongest terms the spate of consistent and unwarranted killings and bloodsheds in Nigeria.  The Union observe with pains and regrets that the killings are synonymous with ethnic and religious cleansing.  The NEC-in-session describes the killings and kidnappings as major threats to our National Unity, masking other issues that should get National attention.
    “Hence it urges the Federal Government of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency, overhaul its security architecture and apparatus  so as to enable the security operatives arrest the collapse in the security sector headlong.  NCSU will continue to raise her voice vehemently against actions that pose a threat to peaceful coexistence and survival of Nigeria project”.
    “The 70th NEC applauds the bold and proactive steps taken by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress to report the Federal Government of Nigeria to ILO, on their obnoxious and draconian Labour bill aimed at distorting our Industrial Relations landscape. NCSU notes that any attempt to pass a bill that negates or violates ILO Convention 98, would be vehemently resisted by organised Labour.
    “The NEC-in-session supports review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) being championed by the National Joint Public Service Negotiating Council  through the setting up of Technical Committee to consider critical upward review of the frightening pay disparity between the salary that exists in the core Civil Service (CONPSS) and other salary structures”.
    The union reject the high and intimidating rate of unemployment in Nigeria which it said poses very serious security risk and threat to peace and national Unity of the Country and asked the government to look inwards and divest a policy that will generate massive employment opportunities for able-bodied Nigerian Youths, while infrastructural and industrial development should be at the front burner of the Government so as to nip in the bud, possible revolution that may erupt as a result of massive unemployment in Nigeria today.

  • Imo APC inaugurates State, LG Executives

    …party to embark on membership revalidation

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formerly inaugurated the state, Local Government and Ward Executives of the party with a call for massive membership drive across the state.

    The State Chairman, Daniel Nwafor who was inaugurated in Abuja, Tuesday, by the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomole, disclosed that the party will immediately commence membership revalidation.

    Newly elected State chairman of the party, Daniel Nwafor disclosed this on Wednesday during the swearing – in of the state executive officers, Local Government and ward chairmen of the party in Owerri.

    Conducting the oath of office on the members of the State Working Committee, Nwafor, assured that none of the party Executives will be shut out in the scheme of things, adding that the priority of the party is to unite every aggrieved member.

    He further assured that the state chapter of the party will continue to the Oshiomole-led National Working Committee, stating that the State Working Committee will mobilize massively to ensure landslide victory for the party in the state.

    According to him “APC will do more, I assure all  LGA Exco members that nobody would be shut out, we would recognize one leader and that is our Governor, Rochas Okorocha, we also promise to support the leaders at the national level. We will help our party Chairman to win convincingly and we shall also support Buhari to return in 2019”.

    Read Also: Imo APC chieftain murdered

    He continued that,  “APC is the only party that can win election in 2019 because we would present the best candidates, we shall continue to recognize governor Okorocha as our leader until a new governor emerges, the storm is over this is a new dawn, APC will grow stronger and claim our deserved victory soon”.

    Meanwhile the Imo state governor has congratulated APC State Chairman, Daniel Nwafor over his successful swearing-in by the National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, noted that “with the election of Mr. Nwafor at the State Congress of the Party and his subsequent swearing-in as the State Chairman of Imo APC, members of the Party, no doubt, have gotten an active Chairman considering what was obtainable in the Party in the past four years”.

    The governor also noted that “With Mr. Nwafor’s wealth of experience in administration and his feat in education, he is fully equipped and enviably prepared to offer Imo APC the kind of leadership that befits a ruling Party”.

    He charged Mr. Nwafor to “pursue with vigour his promise to party members on the day he was elected that he would be Chairman to all and would provide a level playing ground for all those with aspirations”.

    The governor equally advised Mr. Nwafor “to work harmoniously with other members of the State Executive Committee since they are all partners in Progress and to reposition the Party so that the ugly experience that associated with the past Exco could be forgotten”.

    Comrade Oshiomhole for, not only swearing-in Mr. Nwafor but for also working hard to inject new life into the Party, to the glory of God and to the delight of members across the nation.

  • Defection: Oshiomole’s emergence saved APC from collapse – Okorocha

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has called on stakeholders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole as he stabilises  the party.

    The Imo governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press  Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, stated that Oshiomole’s emergence saved APC from implosion.

    He observed that the party would have totally collapsed if the former National Chairman of the party, Odigie Oyegun and the National Working Committee were allowed to pilot the affairs of the party for another one year as proposed with the tenure elongation.

    According to Okorocha, “with the scenarios that have played out within the fold of the APC, at the moment and in less than one month after the National Convention of the Party, it is obvious that the emergence of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman has saved the party from an impending catastrophe”.

    “With the unfolding developments in the party, the story would have been very nauseating if there was no National Convention and if Adams Oshiomhole had not emerged as the National Chairman of the Party”.

    “It can also be argued that some of the proponents of tenure elongation were innocently doing so without having an overview of the entire disturbing picture behind the scheming for elongation of tenure. All these defections, as we all could see, were never planned in the past few weeks. The coming of Oshiomhole just forced the cat out of the bag.

    “With the events too, leaders of the party could now see the wisdom in jettisoning the clamour for tenure elongation for the John Oyegun led National Working Committee (SWC) members, and opting for a National Convention to elect new officers. In the circumstance, those who opposed the elongation stuff and insisted on convention should now be commended”.

    Okorocha was also quoted as saying  that, “one could easily imagine what would have been the case if the party had allowed the Oyegun-led SWC to continue and what would have happened at the party’s primaries especially that of Presidency.

    “What is happening in the party now could not have been planned and executed within these few weeks Oshiomhole took over as the National Chairman of the party. Rather, his coming only altered the plan of those who wanted to destroy APC to serve personal interests.

    “When the issue of elongation came up, we heard a lot of stories why some of those behind the undemocratic demand were persistent on that. That, there was an arrangement somewhere to shortchange President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential primary for 2019. And with events of the moment, that claim has got an alibi.

    Read also: 13 APC LG chairmen defect to PDP

    “In other words, Oshiomhole’s coming was timely. He came at the appropriate time. He is on it and will get it right. All we need to do is to support him. APC has come to stay as number one party in the Country and even in Africa. And whatever that is happening in the party now are indices of Party Politics and they have nothing to do with the fortunes of the party either now or in 2019.

    “In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari will be re-elected by Nigerians. The Party will also have more governors and more legislators elected by the electorate because the records are available to show that we have done well in four years compared with the sixteen years spent by the other party.

    “Adams Oshiomhole has the political will and all it takes to make APC an institution that we shall all be proud of. We know his capacity and that was why we all supported him. He will drive us safely to our destination by the grace of God”.

  • Okorocha places N20m bounty on killers of Imo APC Chieftain

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has pledged a N20 million reward for anyone with credible information that will lead to the arrest of those behind the assassination of the Ideato North Local Government Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sunny Ejiagwu.

    The APC Chieftain was killed Thursday night by unknown Gunmen.

    The Imo governor described the gruesome murder as “purely a case of mindless assassination, looking at the circumstances of the killing”.

    According to him, “considering the fact that nothing was taken away from the man or removed from his car, it should not have been therefore a case of armed robbery, and looking too at the fact that there was no sign of resistance or struggling between the killers and the victim and the method of shooting, the issue of kidnapping should also be ruled out”.

    He said, “the man’s head and body were shattered with bullets following several gunshots just to make sure that he had no chance of being revived, and that could only be done by wicked assassins”.

    The governor who spoke when political and community leaders from Ideato North Council Area came to officially inform him about the murder, assured that the killers of the APC Chieftain popularly known as Ohaneze will soon be apprehended and made to “face the consequences of their wicked act”.

    His words “last night we received a very disturbing news about the untimely death of one of our Party leaders in Ideato North by name Sunny Ejeagwu (Ohaneze) who was murdered at about 8.00pm last night. We have come to a very painful moment of this our political life, to say that those who are behind the killing must be brought to book.

    “From what we have heard so far, from reports reaching us about the way he was murdered, it’s obvious, that was not an act of armed robbery and there was no traces of any item removed from him and there was no traces of any attempt to kidnap him rather, that’s an assassination, outright assassination with the number of bullets that ran through his head and body. It shows that this is an assassination”.

    He continued that, “this is painful and Ohaneze has no reason to die now. He has just been elected the Chairman of APC, Idearo-North and he is one that is loved by all, but for someone to have gone to take his life, we condemn it in its entirety and we have requested the Security agencies to fish out the killers. We as a government must ensure that these culprits, these wicked souls must be brought to book. We must never allow innocent souls to be destroyed or even people being killed just for nothing.

    “I’m here placing a prize tag that whoever can give any useful information as to the killers of Chief Ejeagwu, this government will release the sum of N20m immediately just to make sure we arrest whoever killed this innocent soul. The Security agencies have been directed and mandated within the shortest possible time to produce the killers of this man. We are asking all Imolites to go about their businesses without fear, as security arrangements are on top gear to ensure the security of lives and properties in the State.

    “As politics comes up, this is a similar incident that happened many years ago where in the same Akokwa, a notable politician was killed and it looks like it has become the character of Ideato-North to kill around that area whenever politics comes on. I’m yet to classify this killing as politically motivated killing. But even if that is the case, the perpetrators must be brought to book, and we shall use this to show an example that we mean business to fish out the men of underworld,

    “Therefore, I and the State government have sent our collective sympathy and heart-felt sympathy to the wife and children and the family of Chief Ejeagwu for this undeserved, unmerited and wicked death that he had to go through in the hands of his murderers. But everyone must know that life is sacred and no one has the right to take another’s life, and whoever does that, whether now or later, must pay the prize,

    “So, I sympathize with the family and government will be with this family in this their period of trials and pains. Once more, let me assure all Imolites, all members of APC that we must bring to book, the killers of Ohaneze, and not too far from now”.

  • Imo APC elects new Chairman

    …Okorocha congratulates new officials

     

    The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday elected a new State Chairman, Mr. Daniel Nwafor, during a well attended state Congress held at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC).

    It will be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, had ordered for fresh congresses in the state, after it nullified the one earlier conducted by a faction of the party for flouting the provisions of the constitution of the party.

    The party consequently rescheduled the Ward, Local Government and State Congresses in the state in compliance with the Court judgment.

    Chairman of the Congress Committee, Adesayo Ojo, expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the exercise, noting that it complied with the extant rules of the party.

    He said that members of the Committee worked tirelessly to ensure that the exercise was hitch-free, while charging the newly elected state Executive members to work together as a team and bring back all aggrieved members to the fold.

    Ojo also tasked the State Working Committee to ensure that they reposition the party ahead of the 2019 general elections, so that the party will record landslide victory at all levels.

    In his speech shortly after his inauguration by the Chairman of the Congress Committee, the Chairman (Nwufor), pledged to run an inclusive leadership that will carry every member of the party along.

    According to him, the State Working Committee will as a matter of urgency, constitute a reconciliation committee that will reach out to all aggrieved members and settle all areas of dispute.

    He also hinted that the new state leadership of the party is poised to deliver the party 100 percent in the 2019 elections, adding that, “we are going to embark on aggressive membership drive to further strengthen our party and position it for victory”.

    According to Nwufor, “we are not going to leave anyone behind we are going to run an inclusive administration that will give every member equal opportunities. We are also going to quickly put machineries in motion to reach out to all aggrieved members of our great party so that together we can make our party greater.

    Certifying the Congress, a delegation from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Imo State Office, led Mr. Victor Nwokeabia, the Head of Admin and Monitoring, said that the exercise met with the provisions of the constitution of the party.

    Read Also: Ngige: APC won’t hesitate to expel erring ministers – Oshiomhole

    He said, “we are here in compliance with the Electoral Act which mandates INEC to monitor activities of political parties including congresses of this nature and we are satisfied with the conduct of the APC State Congress held in Imo today”.

    The State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, who participated in the exercise, described it as “the legitimate exercise”, noting that the previous Congress purportedly held in the state was illegitimate”.

    He said, “you can see with the turnout today that this is the legitimate Congress because when you are allow the party members choose their leaders, it will deepen internal democracy”.

    The Governor congratulated the elected party officials and charged them to work hard and conduct the affairs of the party in line with constitution.

    Consequently, the 27 elected Local Government Chairmen were sworn-in by the State Chairman.

  • Umeh to Okorocha: ‘You’re a trickster’

    There may be no end to the war of attrition between Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh.

    Umeh fired back at Okorocha on Wednesday for daring to label him a non performing senator.

    Umeh who is also a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) reiterated his regrets supporting Okorocha to become governor about ten years ago.

    The lawmaker told reporters in Abuja that the support he gave Okorocha which made him Imo State governor has remained a source of regret to him.

    Umeh spoke in the Senate to underscore the need for the Senate to pass “A Bill for an Act to establish the Theatre Arts Professional Regulatory Council to provide for the regulation, training and registration of the Theatre Arts Professionals in Nigeria and for matters connected therewith, 2018 (SB.681).

    He noted that Okorocha’s attempt to “orchestrate the impeachment “of his deputy, Chief Eze Madumere convinced him that the governor is “an irredeemable and unconscionable leader.”

    He said that “if Okorocha is allowed to succeed in piloting the impeachment of his deputy it will be the second time Okorocha would be behind the removal of his deputy.”

    Umeh insisted that Okorocha began to attack him because he advised him not to impeach Madumere having impeached his first deputy, Chief Jude Agbaso during his first tenure as governor of the state.

    He said, “No doubt, Rochas Okorocha is about making history in Nigeria as the only governor that impeached two deputies and because I advised him against impeaching the current one, he started attacking me.

    Read Also: You’re a failed Senator, Okorocha replies Umeh

    “I regret supporting him to become governor of Imo State against all odds.

    “I didn’t know he is a trickster and a ‘419” who found his way into office through fraud and deception.”

    The senator recalled how Okorocha declined to honour agreements with other party stalwarts in the state who ensured his success.

    “Now Okorocha has turned himself into a tiger that is attacking all of them without any molecule of conscience,” he said.

    Umeh said that he personally signed the agreement that brought Okorocha to power as governor, “but I later saw that the governor is a trickster,” which made him to distance himself from the governor.

    He accused Okorocha of attacking religious leaders and elder statesmen for advising him to toe the right path.

    Umeh threatened to publish Okorocha’s alleged “fraudulent transactions” if he continued his outbursts against him.

    He said, “Here is a man who was answering “yes sir, yes sir’ to me, even in the presence of my police orderly who has been working with me in the last 13 years.

    “On getting to office, he suddenly changed, became a tiger and was attacking everybody.  I have documents of some of his fraudulent practices and if he continues to attack on me, I will publish them.”

  • You’re a failed Senator, Okorocha replies Umeh

    …says ex-APGA Chair seeking cheap popularity

     

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Tuesday lampooned the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh for failing as a Legislator who could not find his feet in the Senate.

    The Imo governor noted that Umeh’s recent attack against him is a ploy to get cheap popularity, which he said has eluded him since he was admitted into the Senate.

    According to Okorocha in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, “Chief Umeh has turned himself into an interesting Spectator in a Senate he should be a key player or participant. And he has come to realize that being a Party Chairman is a different ball game when compared with being a Senator”.

    Read Also:Okorocha: I’ve no quarrels with Southeast APC leaders, ministers

    The statement continued that, “Nigerians have seen that Chief Victor Umeh has not been able to find his feet in the Senate since he was elected into that upper Chamber of the National Assembly. He has been staggering, thinking about which leg to put forward first.

    “And for this reason, he has not been getting the kind of media attention he was enjoying free of any charge when he held sway as the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA)”.

    It noted further that, “having been starved of media Publicity as a result of his abysmal outing in the Senate, Umeh felt that the only way he could get the needed attention from the media was by attacking Governor Rochas Okorocha and unwarranted too, leveraging on the impeachment moves against the Deputy Governor of the State, Prince Eze Madumere by the State House of Assembly.

    “In his recent attack against the Imo governor, he concluded by alluding that “God would impeach Governor Okorocha”. And you begin to wonder where Chief Umeh was coming from especially when one remembers that he has never been heard on the floor of the Senate even for a day, either for his constituents or for Anambra people or for the Nigerian people”.

    The statement further stressed that, “as a Party Chairman like that of APGA, he was getting media patronage for certain reasons or on certain issues, but in the Senate, one must be eloquent and articulate on issues to be heard. You need some qualities to prepare motions or bills or contribute meaningfully to debates, unlike his kind of Party Chairmanship.

    “He has continued to talk about how he made Rochas Okorocha governor in Imo in 2011 when he could not do that before 2011 and could not also do that after Rochas had left APGA. And he could not do that in any other State in the South-East even Enugu that is closer to him. And in his Senatorial Zone, PDP had produced the Senators until he came up recently.

    “Chief Umeh should justify his trip to the Senate. Attacking Rochas Okorocha won’t be an acceptable justification for his inaction. His zone is being ravaged by erosion. He can begin with a motion on that. And nothing stops him from engaging a Consultant since one does not give what he does not have. Finally, we want to ask Chief Umeh to face his Challenges in the Senate and leave Rochas Okorocha alone”.

  • Igbo leaders: ‘We will vote Buhari in 2019’

    … Nigeria’s Presidency negotiable – Buhari

    Notable Igbo leaders, Chieftains and members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Tuesday converged in large number in Owerri, the Imo State capital for a mega rally with a promise that the Southeast zone will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

    They noted that the Southeast has benefited immensely from President Buhari’s administration in the last three years, more than what they got for the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) administration.

    Apart from this, the APC leaders said that supporting President Buhari’s second bid will brighten the chances of the zone to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023.

    Speaking at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, venue of the event, the Igbo leaders took turn to highlight some of the landmark achievements the Buhari’s administration has recorded in the Southeast, with special emphasis on the second Niger Bridge and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    Imo State Governor and Chief Host of the event, Rochas Okorocha, said that what President Buhari is doing in the Southeast has endeared his administration to the people.

    Read Also: Buhari, French President meet in Aso Rock

    In his words, “what we are celebrating here is the leadership of President Buhari. It is true that the Igbo made a mistake in 2015 but the Igbo believe in Buhari for 2019 and the Igbo are ardent followers”.

    The Imo governor also dismissed insinuations that the APC is fragmented in the Southeast, stating that, “nobody should use the current misunderstanding in the party to judge the performance of the party in the Southeast. There are similar misunderstandings in other zones as well”.

    Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Umar Ganduje in his speech acknowledged that the Southeast are truly in support of the President’s reelection.

    He said, “With what I have seen today, it is clear that the Igbo has made a u-turn in politics and they are now in the centre of politics in Nigeria. I am impressed with the massive support for the APC and Mr. President”.

    Former Governor of Bornu State and one time National Chairman of the PDP, Ali Mordu Sherriff in his brief speech, said that with the mammoth crowd that gathered for the rally the Igbo are for Buhari. “I have seen with my eyes and confirmed that the Igbo are for Buhari”.

    Leader of the Southeast APC caucus in the House of Representatives, Nnanna Igbokwe, said that the Lawmakers are convinced that President Buhari’s administration has dealt favorably with the Southeast, assuring that “we will mobilize our people in large number in our respective states and vote for APC in 2019 to ensure that we give the President a resounding victory in the Southeast in 2019”.

    The newly elected APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in what appeared to be his first assignment, said that “I am left with no doubt that the APC has taken over the Southeast and our opponents will not sleep today in Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia over what is happening here today”.

    He continued, “I want to salute the determination of the Imo State Governor, today he has shown who truly owns the land. I am truly impressed and I will tell the President that what I saw today is not a social media stunt but physical demonstration of support for the APC”.

    In his response, President Muhammadu Buhari told Igbo that Nigeria’s Presidency has always been negotiated on the position of strength.

    He said that the Igbo Presidency in 2023 will be possible if Ndigbo can invest the same skills and determination they deployed in the business sector into politics.

    According to Buhari who was represented at the Southeast APC Mega Rally by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, “the Igbo should navigate their way into the centre of national politics by supporting the APC in 2019”.

    He stressed, “what happens in 2019 will go a long way to determine the fate of the Igbo nation as it concerns the 2023 Presidency. So it is important that they put away party sentiments in the overall interest of the Igbo nation and ensure that the APC gets landslide victory in the Southeast”.

    The President emphasized that Nigeria needs focused leadership to overcome the plethora of problems created by the PDP administration, “many people are running around to be the President of Nigeria but Nigeria is not a banana republic, what Nigeria needs now is a detribalized, honest, transparent and determined leadership and that is what President Buhari represents”.

    Dignitaries at the event include, Modu Sherriff, former governor of Bayelsa State, Timinipre Silver, Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje, Senators Uche Ekwunife and Andy Uba, APC National Auditor, George Moghalu, APC National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro, Anambra APC governorship candidate in the 2017 election, Dr Tony Nwoye and other members of the APC NWC.

  • Okorocha: I’m still in charge of Imo APC

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has insisted he is still in control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, despite the gang up against him by the ‘Coalition Group’, a pressure group within the party.

    The governor said the plot to manipulate the congresses would amount to naught “as the APC constitution abhors such brazen criminality”.

    He noted that despite claims by the ‘Coalition Group’ of concluding the congresses, the APC is yet to “conduct any congress in the state”.

    Okorocha blamed the crisis in the party on weak leadership, saying “yes, we have some issues in the APC, and this is because the party leadership is weak.

    ‘’The National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso, are responsible for the crisis in the state chapter because they wanted their tenure to be elongated and I opposed it. So, they decided to give the sensitive materials for the congresses to some people to go and write names in the bush.

    “That is not the spirit of the APC; most of them are master election riggers in the PDP and they brought that mentality into the APC but they will soon leave the party.”

    The governor cautioned against voting some members of the group nursing governorship ambition into office, saying “those fighting me today are not happy because they no longer have access to state coffers; they have been starved of public funds in the last seven years and they are desperate to return so that they can resume the business of squandering state resources, but we will not allow them”.

    “People like Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Hope Uzodinma and Emeka Ihedioha are simply a no-go area, their only reason for wanting to become governor is to loot state resources like they did in the past.”