12 PDP governors ready to join the opposition – Gov. Okorocha boasts as he defects to unregistered APC

Rochas Okorocha declares

by Akan Ido

By the time the political dust settles as the country moves towards the 2015 elections the ranks of the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled states may have swollen to twenty three.

In a bold political move, the governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday defected to the yet-to-be-registered APC stating that the Party is filled with “a crop of seasoned, patriotic politicians who want to rescue the nation from the quagmire inflicted on it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

Read the Vanguard Newspapers report below:

The defection during a public rally at the Heroes Square, Owerri was witnessed by eight governors from opposition political parties.

Okorocha indicated that as many as 12 governors possibly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had given indication to boost the ranks of the opposition governors to 23 from 11.

The move was immediately flayed by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. According to Imo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, this was another indication of Governor Okorocha’s determination to hang on to power in any shape.

National chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh shied away from commenting on the matter as he didn’t respond to a text message sent to him on the issue.

Okorocha’s defection was witnessed by governors from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Edo, Osun, Nasarawa and Borno states.

Flanked by his wife, Nkechi and the visiting governors, an elated Okorocha explained that the merger of some political parties was being engineered by those he called “a crop of seasoned, patriotic politicians who want to rescue the nation from the quagmire inflicted on it by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.”

Okorocha gave assurance that Ndigbo have embraced APC because of what he termed their sad experience in the hands of the PDP at the federal and state levels, pointing out that the party has been consigned to the dustbin of history in Imo State.

He advised Imo people to sustain their spirit of democracy and good governance through the rejection of the PDP and all that the party stands for in all future electoral exercises.

“I must commend all the governors that have chosen to come under the APC umbrella, especially as this is a sure way of ending bad administration in this God blessed country”, Okorocha said.

Lamenting the fate of the country in the last 12 years under different PDP federal administrations, Okorocha who derided the party as “people deceiving people”, said: “this ugly trend has pauperized Nigerians through poverty of vision and project implementation. Never again will Nigeria represent a nation in bondage.”

While speaking on behalf of the other governors, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos commended Okorocha for publicly declaring for the APC saying it is a positive step to liberate the people from a state of hopelessness.

The report continues thus;

Fashola said: “We in APC are committed to a change for the betterment of our dear nation and our people. 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”.

Adding an element of humour into the event, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, announced that Okorocha had been conferred with the title of “Girigi of Oyo State”.

Ajimobi said: “Those who have accepted to join and identify with APC would enjoy everlasting divine blessing, while those still procrastinating on when and how to do so, would have their blessings deferred”.

He commended Governor Okorocha for “his landmark achievements that have ultimately brought smiles on the faces of Imo people,” stressing that Imo people should continue to support him.

Meanwhile, the state capital, Owerri virtually stood still yesterday as schools, markets and a good number of business centres were closed for most of the day on account of the defection.

Responding to the defection, the PDP spokesman, Chief Amajirionwu said:

“What he did is one of those unserious things that are always associated with him.

“In the history of Nigeria, the South East was never known to play opposition politics. What is counted today as APC is a Yoruba party and if you come to the political history of this country we in the South East have always played along the national tendency, not playing along sectional issues. I want to assure you that in Imo State not even a ward, not to talk of a local government would go the way of APC.

“Rochas is on his own and that is his nature which we have been saying to everybody. Rochas is not dependable, look at the party that sponsored him, look at how he has dumped and disgraced APGA. APGA is not even backing him on what he is doing and this is APGA that sponsored him to where he is now. And that is a lesson for those now with him because he would also one day dump them and move on.”

Comments (5)

  1. Rochas took the best decision. Hw well does APC represents a section? This is an illusion to those jittery n fret of ceding power to APC particularly PDP. As for me, I am embracing APC and I wl ensure to evangelise the party to those craving for change in leadership @the center which is a vacuum

  2. Chief Amajirionowu is one of our fathers that needs to be rejected as father. Is he happy they way they are running the affair of the nation? When a graduate cannot afford to eat a 3 square meal daily. I pity his children. They will cause him because he refused to say the truth because of the poor food he is eaten. I know one day, the youths will rise up against both the useless PDP which has nothing to show for over 14 years in power aside from bokoharam, kidnapping, hunger, unemployment, corruption, among other vices and the fairly manage APC. I am sure PDP will soon be consume by revolution if care is not taken. PDP has turned the fortune of this great nation upside down and that is the way God will turn their own life upside down because of the innocent souls that are suffering. I rest my case

  3. chief amajirionwu ,should get one thing right, …Owelle Rochas Okorocha sponsored Apga to reach their present level of political relevance in imo state[and not the other way round] without which they wouldn?t have dreamt of snatching power from a ‘power hungry, and politically direction-less party’ like pdp. Fielding a political juggernaut like Okorocha is the dream of every party ,his curriculum vitae is strong enough to push down any opposition. Quote me…

  4. This is a welcome development

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