Monday, January 30, 2017

Ndigbo should talk about presidency after Buhari’s tenure – Okorocha

ABUJA — Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has jettisoned the call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the South East should contest for President in 2019, saying that it was only ripe for Ndigbo to do so after President Muhammadu Buhari has had his full eight years tenure. 

This came as the Senate Majority leader, Ahmed Lawan said that peace now reigned in the Senate caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress,APC, following his election recently.

 Both men spoke to State House Correspondents after meeting with Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo behind closed doors yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Okorocha said that there were frantic efforts to unite the party in the south east. 

He also maintained his earlier position that some governors from the region had indicated interest to join the APC.

 He 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 and everybody should follow the zoning although I am not an advocate of zoning. 

“The APC as a party is strong in the South East. We are trying to rebuild the party and redefine leadership, so there will be no confusion. As to whether the APC in the South East is in disarray as the case has always been, we want to have a united party in the South East.

” On the denial by south east governors that they have not joined APC and that he, Okorocha does not inspire any leadership, the governor said it was possible the governors were not ready yet. 

 “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 Sen. Ken Nnamani should take a lead of the party in the South East to enable us have a common understanding, long with other leaders like Chief Jim Nwobodo.”

 “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.

 “Leadership is not in question, we have agreed the Ken Nnamdi should lead. So, it is not about Rochas Okorocha, I am a governor”, he said.

 Similarly, the Senate leader told journalists that he was in the Villa to brief the Acting President on the progress made so far on the budget even as he said that the Senate was ready now to work with the Osinbajo.

 People flocking to APC because of Buhari’s performance 

Meantime, National Auditor of All Progressive Congress, APC, and the party’s governorship aspirant, Chief George Moghalu has said that the Igbo were flocking to the APC because of the wonderful performance of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Speaking in an interview in Awka yesterday, Moghalu said Igbo had realized that the party would be the only platform that would enable them achieve their political ambition in the country.

 He said though APC was not an Igbo party, Igbo people have realized that it is a national political party with Igbo interest in its agenda. He was happy that those who denigrated the party in the past were now trooping into it because of what President Muhammadu Buhari.

 “You know we have suspended plenaries for three weeks. The idea is to have ample time to focus on the appropriation bill. The committees will start to work from this week raking the NDS on the budget defence that they need to do. 

“Secondly, you know that the Acting President is an APC Ag President of this our administration. As a new Senate Leader, it is also important that I come here to this office to tell the Acting President and our administration that the APC caucus in the Senate is now a united caucus.

 “We are ready as a caucus to support our administration. We are also ready as a Senate, that is both the APC and the minority parties, to work for the betterment of Nigerians. Our colleagues in the opposition have always been supportive and being there for the Senate to function. 

“So, the whole development is to ensure that this government delivers in its campaign promises to Nigerians by the executive and the legislature working hand in give and in a synergistic manner in that our campaign promises become real and available to all Nigerians for the betterment of the country”, he said.

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