BEVERLY HILLS, January 29, (THEWILL) – Frontline leaders and politicians of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South Eastern states have agreed to support President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term come 2019 saying they will only vie for the Presidency after expiration of Buhari’s second term.
These were the decisions by the zone after a brainstorming session in Owerri, the Imo State capital, in which a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, emerged leader of in the party in the Southeast zone.
Those in attendance at the meeting, held at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), includes Rochas Okorocha, Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume, George Moughalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, Eze Madumere, members of the National Working Committee of APC, as well as other prominent politicians from the zone.
Speaking after the meeting, Okorocha revealed that three current governors in the zone will be joining the APC soon insisting that the APC is the only party that can guarantee the Presidency for the Igbos and urged other political leaders in the geopolitical zone to take “advantage of the moment and come into APC.”
“There is a vacuum of leadership in the South-East APC. I am a Governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are Ministers. Now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us,” he said.
“Hence the importance of Ken Nnamani coming at this time. I declined leadership of Ndi-Igbo in APC. With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the Southeast has been answered. Ken Nnamani is the leader of APC in the South-East.
“Senator Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndi-Igbo Political direction.
“Those who have joined the Party or who want to join should do so to build the Party and not to cause Confusion. APC is the right Party for the Igbo and the only Party that can guarantee Igbo Presidency.
“We are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndi-Igbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived South-east.
“The Igbo played bad politics in 2015. Today we have lost a lot. We are not anywhere because of our bad politics.”
Nnamani added that the Igbos need more leaders at the National leadership of the APC where decisions are taken and at the National Assembly and other strategic areas.
“Some of us going into APC are not doing so because of hunger but in the interest of the Igbos. We should play politics of ideas and avoid abusive words. Ndi-Igbo do not have the ingredients for opposition politics.
“We do not have the media or business or money to play opposition politics but we won’t ask for handouts. How the Yorubas voted in 2015 should be an eye-opener. They voted both sides but the South-East put their eggs in one basket.
“I am not of the view that everybody should be in APC but those have seen the need should do so. If Governor Okorocha has realised that he needs more hands in APC, he should be commended. We are worst enemies of ourselves.
“If we work together we will go very far. This is the time to play national politics. Some people could say we have the Deputy Senate President but he does not attend the meeting of APC caucus where important decisions are taken.
“We must think ahead. The benefit of that office is therefore personal and does not enhance the political fortunes of the South-East people.”
