Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Tuesday
finally bid farewell to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with a
formal declaration for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
finally bid farewell to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with a
formal declaration for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okorocha dumped the party on which platform he rode to power at
a cere-mony at the Hero’s Square, Owerri, attended by Governors of Lagos, Ogun,
Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa and Borno states.
a cere-mony at the Hero’s Square, Owerri, attended by Governors of Lagos, Ogun,
Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa and Borno states.
This effectively put paid to speculations that Okorocha had abandoned
the APGA in preference for the contentious APC.
the APGA in preference for the contentious APC.
Owerri, the Imo State capital, momentarily stood still as
traders, market women, school children, civil servants, heads of ministerial
and non-ministerial departments, State House of Assembly and tertiary
institutions, local government sole administrators, and members of the
organised private sector graced the ceremony.
traders, market women, school children, civil servants, heads of ministerial
and non-ministerial departments, State House of Assembly and tertiary
institutions, local government sole administrators, and members of the
organised private sector graced the ceremony.
An obviously elated Okorocha, flanked by his visiting
colleagues, his deputy and wife, said the coming together of some political
parties to form the APC was an altruistic desire by a crop of patriotic
politicians to rescue the nation from its current state of abyss.
colleagues, his deputy and wife, said the coming together of some political
parties to form the APC was an altruistic desire by a crop of patriotic
politicians to rescue the nation from its current state of abyss.
Okorocha, who recalled the journey over the past 12 years of the
Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) Federal Government scornfully described the
PDP as “People Deceiving People.”
Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) Federal Government scornfully described the
PDP as “People Deceiving People.”
He claimed that the party had pauperized the masses, saying,
“Never again will Nigeria represent a nation in bondage.”
“Never again will Nigeria represent a nation in bondage.”
The Governor, amidst intermittent shouts of ‘Owelle’, ‘Owelle’,
‘Owelle’ by the gyrating women and children, said membership of the APC has
continued to increase daily.
‘Owelle’ by the gyrating women and children, said membership of the APC has
continued to increase daily.
He said the party now boasts of about 23 Governors whose names
would soon be made public.
would soon be made public.
Okorocha assured that the Igbo had all embraced the APC because
of their sad experience in the hands of the PDP at both the state and federal
levels, adding that the party had been consigned into the dust bin of history
in Imo.
of their sad experience in the hands of the PDP at both the state and federal
levels, adding that the party had been consigned into the dust bin of history
in Imo.
The Governor advised the Imo electorate to sustain their spirit
of democracy and good governance by rejecting the PDP and all it stands for in
future elections, just as he commended the Governors who had chosen to come
under the umbrella of APC as a solution to end bad administration in the
country.
of democracy and good governance by rejecting the PDP and all it stands for in
future elections, just as he commended the Governors who had chosen to come
under the umbrella of APC as a solution to end bad administration in the
country.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State commended Okorocha for
his spirit of patriotism, saying APC marked the beginning of a veritable change
for positive transformation and reformation in the country.
his spirit of patriotism, saying APC marked the beginning of a veritable change
for positive transformation and reformation in the country.
“We in the APC are committed to a change for the betterment of
our dear nation and our people and the coming of APC is neither borne out of
selfishness nor greed but a positive step to liberate our people from a state
of hopelessness.”
our dear nation and our people and the coming of APC is neither borne out of
selfishness nor greed but a positive step to liberate our people from a state
of hopelessness.”
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State in his brief remark
homourously disclosed that Okorocha had been conferred with the title of
‘Girigi’ of Oyo State and that those who had accepted to join and identify with
the APC would enjoy everlasting divine blessing while those still
dilly-dallying to do so would have their blessings deferred.
homourously disclosed that Okorocha had been conferred with the title of
‘Girigi’ of Oyo State and that those who had accepted to join and identify with
the APC would enjoy everlasting divine blessing while those still
dilly-dallying to do so would have their blessings deferred.
The Oyo State Governor similarly commended Okorocha for his
landmark achievements, which, he noted, had brought smiles on the faces of
people, and urged Imo people to continue to support him.
landmark achievements, which, he noted, had brought smiles on the faces of
people, and urged Imo people to continue to support him.
Source: Daily Independent
