My suspension by APGA is irrelevant, says Okorocha

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Sunday has dismissed his suspension by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) as “irrelevant” and having no consequence.

In a statement on Sunday, the governor urged the people of the state to remain calm and be law-abiding.

“The governor is currently in the U.S. for a town hall meeting, organized by Imo indigenes at Atlanta, Georgia,” his spokesperson, Chinedu Offor, said.

Mr. Okorocha was suspended on Saturday by his party, APGA, over his links with the newly-formed All Progressive Alliance, APC.

The governor has been a leading member of the merger between three opposition parties. His party, has however refused to be part of the coalition.

On Saturday, the National Executive Council of APGA accused Mr. Okorocha of anti-party activities for associating with the APC.

In a communiqué, the NEC unanimously resolved to suspend Mr. Okorocha from the party for anti-party activities, and also announced the dissolution of the State Executive Committee of APGA in Imo state.

In a reaction on Sunday, the All Progressives Congress, APC denounced the suspension as a proof that APGA is planning a merger with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

A statement by APC’s zonal spokesperson Osita Okechuckwu said the the first phase to merge APGA with PDP started with the South East Zonal Rally of the PDP before the 2011 general elections, where APGA publicly declared support for the PDP”.

It said with the exit of Odimegwu Ojukwu, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State commenced the final phase of the merger.

“We regret that APGA national chairman, Victor Umeh, who fought gallantly against this unholy merger, capitulated lately,” the statement said.

The party said it is the considered view of APC South East Zone that 14 years of PDP leadership had yielded no fruit for the south east.

“In 1999, PDP promised and repeatedly before 2003, 2007, 2011 elections the dualization of Abakaliki-Enugu, Abia-Akwa-Ibom, Kogi-Anambra, reconstruction of Port Harcourt-Enugu, Onitsha-Enugu roads, Enugu Coal-Fired-Plant, 2nd Niger Bridge, Onistsha Port etc. The rest they say is history, as we are yet to see any ship berthing at the Onitsha Sea Port launched with fanfare by President Goodluck Jonathan nor where the second Niger bridge is located in any federal budget. What we saw is patching of roads,” it said.

It also said to worsen matters President Jonathan whom Ndigbo took as their own and voted massively for; “could not find it worthy to assign Ndigbo to any of the four top protocol list – president, vice president, senate president and speaker.

“Handy with these PDP failed promises, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Dr Ogbonniya Onu, Senator Chris Ngige and other eminent sons of Ndigbo said-Enough is Enough- and joined APC.

“In sum, we urge Ndigbo to join the APC enmasse to provide critical infrastructure for the industrialization of Nigeria and sweep away the impression that we are only interested in sharing money,” the statement said.

--------------Premium Times Nigeria