‘Okorocha joined APC for interest of Igbos’

‘Okorocha joined APC for interest of Igbos’

Chief Martins Ebunola, Special Assistant (Lagos) to Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Thursday said that the governor joined the APC to actualise the dream of the Igbos for a presidential or vice-presidential slot in 2015.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos on the controversy that trailed statements by the governor at the inaugural meeting of the South East APC, held in Owerri, Ebunola said that abusing Okorocha over the statement as uncalled for.

The criticisms trailed the statement by Okorocha that some Igbo leaders wanted to sabotage the chances of the Igbos in 2015.

The special assistant to the governor who confirmed that the governor made such allegation, explained that Okorocha was referring to some Igbo leaders who were working against the political interest of the Igbos.

“Okorocha may have left his former party to join APC but he has no quarrel with anyone.

“The governor is not at logger-heads with anyone. All that is uppermost in his mind is for Igbos to forge a common front for their benefit.

“What is wrong with the progressive efforts of the governor to ensure that an Igbo man was democratically elected as president or vice-president of Nigeria in 2015?

He pointed out that Okorocha had not said he was running for presidency in 2015.

“The governor is not fighting anybody or fighting to become president.

“All he wants is to ensure that the right people are put in governance and that the Igbos are not marginalised in any way in the country.

“Why should Okorocha be abused for fighting that the Igbos must not be treated as second-class citizens in their own country.’’

He explained further that Okorocha’s membership of the APC was also because the party offered the Igbos an opportunity to occupy strategic leadership positions in its structure.

Ebunola, however, urged Igbo people and all Igbo-speaking communities in the country to support the APC as the party’s manifesto would further promote the rapid development of Igbo land.

He noted that Okorocha remained a patriot, nationalist and progressive politician, who had been acknowledged nationwide. (NAN)