Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Following the refusal of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and, National Organising Secretary of the party, Sen. Osita Izunaso, to abide by a High court order restraining them from going ahead with the congresses in Imo State as well as subsequent inauguration of the state executive officers of the party, Governor Rochas Okorocha has disclosed that the duo should be prosecuted.
Acting state Secretary of the party, Obioma Ireagwu, also confirmed the plan action of the party.
Governor Okorocha who disclosed this in a press statement he issued through his Chief Press Secretary , Sam Onwuemeodo also noted that “with the manner Oyegun has piloted the affairs of the party , leaders of the party he said must have over – rated his capacity in allowing him to succeed Bisi Akande as the National Chairman of the party”
He maintained that Oyegun has taken the Party backward by ” several kilometres to the extent that today, there is no State that the Party does not have crisis or faction”.
Governor Okorocha also stressed that , the way Oyegun has pursued the issue of elongation also showed “how selfish and greedy, he is. He is not interested in the well-being or future of the Party, but only interested in staying put as the National Chairman of the Party. And that is why he is after anybody who opposed the tenure elongation”
He continued, “The worst thing that would have happened to APC is to allow Chief Oyegun to Continue as the National Chairman of the Party.
“It would have been worst for the Party. Chief Akande never tried to destroy the Party because he was leaving as the Pioneer Chairman. But Oyegun wants to destroy the Party because he is leaving. He is not patriotic.
“The only thing Chief Oyegun has achieved in his anger against Governor Okorocha is encouraging elements with no electoral value like Osita Okechukwu and those from Imo to be insulting the Governor. And these are people who cannot win their booths in an election.
Governor Okorocha further affirmed that, “The same elements came together during the Anambra State governorship election.
“ The governor stayed away and at the end of the day, they could not justify their noise making. They have also started again. And these are people who have been running election since 2007 and have not won any”
On the Oyegun comments recently in a national daily, claiming that the South-East and Imo APC Stakeholders are united against him, Governor Okorocha said “Let them hold South-East rally or Imo rally at a venue and let Rochas hold his own at another location and let’s see the outcome”
The governor further emphasised that he won his election in 2011 without any of the politicians tackling him today, and also won in 2015 without them and vowed that he will also make the Party win in 2019 without them.
He, however, assured Oyegun that Imo APC members will not allow any faction. He said “The APC in Imo and even in the South-East is Governor Okorocha’s making. “And it will be foolish of anybody to think that he would build the Party and allow cowards to take it over. If they have the Political strength, let them go and pick a Party and present a Candidate, and it will be very interesting.
“And if Rochas Okorocha is no more the political figure to watch in Imo, why then are they bothered about the ambition of Uche Nwosu.
“Why is the issue of Uche Nwosu giving them unprecedented headache? They are bothered because they feel that with the Governor behind Uche Nwosu, he would win. And they are right” Governor Okorocha said.