The Governor of Imo State , Rochas Okorocha, has declared that three governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party from the South- East were about joining the ruling All Progressives Congress .
This was even as the leaders of the APC in the zone called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term in office in 2019 .
A statement issued by Okorocha’ s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting of the ruling party in the geopolitical zone , which took place in Owerri , the Imo State capital , stated that Okorocha and all the APC leaders in the zone had thrown their weight behind the President for eight years in office .
Okorocha said , “ We are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndigbo to come and work together . We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that the APC has arrived in the South-East . The Igbo played bad politics in 2015 . Today , we have lost a lot . We are not anywhere because of our bad politics . ”
Okorocha disclosed that he was in touch with the three serving governors in the South - East , promising that they would soon join him in the APC .
He added , “ Being the only APC governor in the South - East does not give me joy and I therefore advise other political leaders in the geopolitical zone to take the advantage of the moment and come into the APC. ”
The stakeholders’ meeting equally produced a former Senate President , Ken Nnamani, as the new leader of the party in the zone .
Okorocha said the choice of Nnamani as the new leader of the party in the zone was to give Ndigbo a sense of direction and purpose in national politics .
In his speech shortly after his nomination as the leader of the party in the zone , Nnamani said the Igbo needed more of their leaders to be on the national leadership of the APC and the National Assembly where key decisions were taken .
The former Senate President said , “Some of us going into the APC are not doing so because of hunger , but in the interest of the Igbo people. We should play politics of ideas , and avoid abusive words . Ndigbo 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 Yoruba people voted in 2015 should be an eye - opener . They voted both sides , but the South - East put all their eggs in one basket . I am not of the view that everybody should be in the APC , but those that have seen the need should do so . If Governor Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in the 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 added .
Meanwhile , the Minister of Science and Technology , Dr . Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the APC was ready to welcome and recognise the three governors who were expected to defect to the ruling party .
Onu said this in his country home in Uburu Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Sunday , when he received the leadership of the South - East Traditional Rulers Council who paid him a courtesy visit .
Onu said, ” The APC would welcome all those who finally decides to come into the APC; we will accord them recognition and receive them with open hands the moment they indicate their desire to join the party . ”
This was even as the leaders of the APC in the zone called on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term in office in 2019 .
A statement issued by Okorocha’ s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, at the end of the stakeholders’ meeting of the ruling party in the geopolitical zone , which took place in Owerri , the Imo State capital , stated that Okorocha and all the APC leaders in the zone had thrown their weight behind the President for eight years in office .
Okorocha said , “ We are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndigbo to come and work together . We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that the APC has arrived in the South-East . The Igbo played bad politics in 2015 . Today , we have lost a lot . We are not anywhere because of our bad politics . ”
Okorocha disclosed that he was in touch with the three serving governors in the South - East , promising that they would soon join him in the APC .
He added , “ Being the only APC governor in the South - East does not give me joy and I therefore advise other political leaders in the geopolitical zone to take the advantage of the moment and come into the APC. ”
The stakeholders’ meeting equally produced a former Senate President , Ken Nnamani, as the new leader of the party in the zone .
Okorocha said the choice of Nnamani as the new leader of the party in the zone was to give Ndigbo a sense of direction and purpose in national politics .
In his speech shortly after his nomination as the leader of the party in the zone , Nnamani said the Igbo needed more of their leaders to be on the national leadership of the APC and the National Assembly where key decisions were taken .
The former Senate President said , “Some of us going into the APC are not doing so because of hunger , but in the interest of the Igbo people. We should play politics of ideas , and avoid abusive words . Ndigbo 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 Yoruba people voted in 2015 should be an eye - opener . They voted both sides , but the South - East put all their eggs in one basket . I am not of the view that everybody should be in the APC , but those that have seen the need should do so . If Governor Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in the 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 added .
Meanwhile , the Minister of Science and Technology , Dr . Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the APC was ready to welcome and recognise the three governors who were expected to defect to the ruling party .
Onu said this in his country home in Uburu Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Sunday , when he received the leadership of the South - East Traditional Rulers Council who paid him a courtesy visit .
Onu said, ” The APC would welcome all those who finally decides to come into the APC; we will accord them recognition and receive them with open hands the moment they indicate their desire to join the party . ”
