...Okorocha stays away from rally…Oshiomhole says he is fake
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared support for the Imo All Progressives Congress (APC), governorship candidate, Hope Uzodinma.
The APC, National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole made this known at a rally to flag-off Uzodimma’s campaign in Owerri on Friday.
The state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who is also a member of the APC boycotted the rally.
Mr Okorocha has been having a running battle with Mr Oshiomhole over the refusal of the party to recognize the governor’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as its governorship candidate in the state.
The party also dissolved the state working committee loyal to the governor.
Mr Nwosu has since defected to another the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) where he hopes to actualize his ambition.
The governor however remains the senatorial candidate of the APC for Imo West Senatorial District.
At the rally, Mr Oshiomhole urged Imo people to disregard people from unknown parties, who were juxtaposing Mr Buhari’s picture with theirs, saying Mr Uzodinma was the only candidate endorsed by Buhari.
“Those who are putting Buhari with their faces because they are unknown are fake. Buhari has APC as his party.
“Buhari has adopted Uzodinma as his governorship candidate.
“We brought you a message of hope not a message of lamentation and family business.
“We have come to deliver the message of hope that although things have gone wrong in the recent past, we have come to say how we will return the governance of the state to the people.
“The government that is coming will bring development for every son and daughter of Imo. Today is not a concert but a day to pass the message of hope.
“You have a reason for demanding change,” he said.
Mr Oshiomhole assured civil servants in the state that they would not be neglected in Mr Uzodinma’s government.
He noted that civil servants in the state were being treated with levity in spite of their relevance to the development of the state.
He added that other people including traditional rulers and pensioners would be given their right of place and treated with dignity.
“You want a governorship candidate whose purpose is to bring development to all Imo people including civil servants who no longer know what a pay day is like.
“I want to assure workers that have been lamenting and families whose breadwinners cannot fend for them that the days are over.
“Never again will your governor look at you and say your salary depends on when you work not when it is due.
“You will now have a person that will lead by example and do not be deceived. Anybody who believes in APC must support Uzodinma.
“Pensioners too will smile. Traditional rulers will have dominion over their areas without intimidation.
“We will make sure the bailout money is returned.
“The days are gone when a governor will look at the people and say there is money for other things but not for paying salaries.
“In Uzodinma’s government, appointments will be based on merit and not family connection. We will not domesticate happiness in the hands of a few people because all Imo people will be happy,” he said.
The national chairman stressed that “roads and other contracts will not be awarded to in-laws but to genuine men and women of Imo State”.
“Democracy is about the people and as such we will run an inclusive government, the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Never again shall we govern on the basis of family connection. Knowing somebody or not, or marrying from a family or not will no longer matter. Your money will be used to develop Imo,” Mr Oshiomhole said.
He said Nigeria needed to produce leaders that would be accepted by the people.
He expressed disappointment over the state government’s refusal to release the stadium booked for the rally.
According to him, it is absurd for a governor who is in the same party with the governorship candidate to deny access to the stadium.
He stressed that it was worrisome that a place built with tax payers’ money was put under lock and key.
“If out of the people’s innocence they elected a man that denied them use of a place that belongs to them, it can only translate to electoral victory.”
While promising that the party would be in the state for another rally, Oshiomhole urged the people to come out en mass to vote for Messrs Buhari and Uzodinma in the 2019 general elections.
Imo people defied Okorocha’s politics of bitterness as they shut down the capital city of Owerri to attend the APC campaign flag-off, which held at Hope Uzodinma’s Camapiagn Office along Okigwe Road not minding the scotching sun and dusty and drying harmattan season.
Uzodinma had promised to return the State on the path of progress, decrying the high level of poverty in the land when the State can boast of numerous human, material and natural resources.
He called on all and sundry to support APC at all levels, promising to work with the leaders in the State and in the South East to ensure re-election of President Buhari.
Oshiomole used the occasion to commend the party faithful in the State for their commitment and long suffering in ensuring the party is put on the path progress.
Oshiomole also apologized to the religious leaders in the State, urging them to disregard Okorocha’s insult and disrespect. “We as a party respect our religious leaders and cannot afford to insult them. Freedom of worship is properly enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On behalf of APC, we urge our religious leaders in the State to leave our party out such disrespect,” he enthused.
Speaking further, the National Party Chairman said: “I bring you a message of hope and not message of lamentations. Although things have gone wrong in recent past, we are here to restore the state on the progress. Hope will bring prosperity to Imolites.”
Mocking Governor Okorocha, he said that gone are the days when a Governor will say there is excess money in the State for everything but not to pay salaries, allowances and pensioners.
Oshiomole revealed that part of the money extended to the State by President Buhari was to ensure the comfort of workers and pensioners.He insisted that the money must be retrieved from Okorocha.
“President Mohammadu Buhari had given more than enough money to pay workers and pensioners. I want assure you that money must be retrieved”; he said.
Oshiomole promised that due process will be observed in the way contracts and government businesses are conducted and will no longer be left in the hands of family and those with marriage ties. He also averred that appointment under the incoming government will be on the basis family and marriage ties.
He assured the Traditional Rulers they will be given their powers to superintendend the affairs of their kingdoms with any atom of molestation or intimidation.
He tacitly warned Okorocha that the party will not stand by and watch Okorocha take the party for a ride, warning him that him anyone claims membership of APC must support APC candidate or face the music. Coming hard on him for locking the party out of the stadium, which he said was built with Imo money, he cursed him that since he chose to copy Ikedi Ohakim who refused him the use of stadium, that the same failure that befell Ohakim will befall him.
In the same vein, speaking to newsmen, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere described Okorocha as a regret for failing Imo people considering his background and huge support he received from them to emerge the governor of the State.
He attributed Okorocha’s woeful performance to greed nepotism, selfishness, reckless abuse of rule of law, knack for substandard jobs and averse to any sensible and patriotic advise.
Prince Madumere called on the good people of Imo State not to see APC through Okorocha’s spectacle who has failed them in all fronts, subjecting them to harsh conditions with poverty pervading the State. He regretted the unjustified demolition of Eke-Ukwu Owerri, which has plunged many families into untold hardship.
He commended APC faithful for their poise to changing Okorocha’s impunity and anti people policies by going against his tyrannical disposition, assuring Imolites that their dignity will be restored by the incoming government.
Prince Madumere described President Buhari as a man of integrity who has fulfilled most of his promises, enumerating some of his achievements in aviation, agriculture, rehabilitation and reconstructing Nigerian railway with promise of including South East in the next phase.
He also reminded Imolites of the effort of President Buhari in the ongoing construction of the second Niger Bridge, major express roads like Owerri-Aba road, Enugu-Imo-Abia-Port Harcourt express way with their huge economic importance to the people of the South East.
He therefore called on Imolites to come out en mass to support the re-election of President Buhari, the governorship candidate of the State and other APC candidates while hammering on the need to produce Igbo Presidency come, 2023 as a task Imolites and Ndi Igbo must take seriously through their votes.
(NAN)