Politics
2019: Imo APC rejects, vows showdown with Gov Okorocha
A vote of no confidence has been passed on Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over alleged wrong doings.
Chief among many other accusation leveled against Okorocha by his own party men for which he is being rejected was that he has allegedly personalised affairs of governance in Imo and had in different ways angered the very people that voted him into power through bad policies.
In a memo the state deputy governor, Eze Madumere; Senator representing Imo North, Ben Uwajumogu; the National Organising Secretary of the party, Senator Osita Izunaso; Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and several others sent to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, they called on the party to call Okorocha to order.
The group vowed that they were going to do everything possible to resist attempts by the state governor to destroy the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The leader of the APC stakeholders in Imo state, Chief Okey Ikoro, led the delegation of the party members that submitted the petition to the NWC.
Ikoro said at the occasion, “In a well-attended meeting of the Imo State APC stakeholders held on the 28th day of April, 2018 at the country home of Dr. Uzoma Obiyo in Ugirike Ikeduru LGA, we the APC leaders present, unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
“We, the stakeholders of the APC disassociate ourselves and the Imo State chapter of APC from the ignoble policies and programmes of the Owelle Rochas Okorocha-led administration which are viewed as anti-people, unpopular and retrogressive.
“Imo State APC stakeholders at the meeting agreed to wrestle back the party from one man and give it back to the people, and to initiate recall processes of some members of Imo State House of Assembly whose actions are inimical to the progress of the state with particular reference to purported endorsement of a particular gubernatorial aspirant for the forthcoming election in the state which is outside their schedule and rules of engagement, an action which has polarized the party.
“We also use this premise to inform the public that the actions and inactions of the present government in the state which have brought untold hardship especially to the residents of Owerri and the entire Imo State are not contained in the manifesto of APC, but remains solely the decisions of Owelle Rochas Okorocha.”
The group further condemned the alleged “despicable usurpation” of the powers of the party offices and officers by Okorocha to himself, which has portrayed the party in the state to be part of the contemptible abuse of power and flagrant disobedience of court orders by the governor.
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He said, “The Forum condemns and rejects the shameful and illegal use of Imo State tax payers money by the governor, Chief Ethelbert Anayo Okorocha to forcefully install his son in-law, Mr Uche Nwosu (who is currently Chief of Staff) as governor of Imo State in 2019. The imperial style imposition of Mr Nwosu on the party and people of Imo State by Governor Okorocha using bribery, harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.”
Sins of Okorocha as listed by the members include destruction of private properties and markets without adequate notices or providing alternatives; forceful acquisition of lands from the natives; total refusal to pay gratuities; fraudulent handling of payment of pension; non promotion of civil servants since 2011; imposition of N3,000 levy on men among other issues.
National chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in response assured the aggrieved members that the party leadership would look at the petition with a view to resolving the issues.
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