PRESS STATEMENT
THE SINISTER PLOT OF ROCHAS OKOROCHA, AND THE APC AGAINST
GOVERNOR WILLIE OBIANO, NDI-ANAMBRA AND THE IGBO NATION.
OUR STAND:
The attention of the National Association of Igbo Youths has been drawn to the threats, inflammatory and
inciting statement made by a Fellow South Eastern Governor, Rochas Okorocha of
Imo State against the administration of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State,
Ndi-Aanambra and the Igbo Nation as reported, in the Punch Newspaper of 9th
May 2017.
The Imo State Governor had said that
nothing would stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) from taking over Anambra
State in the November 18 governorship poll.
Governor Okorocha stated this while
inaugurating the so called Rochas Peoples Movement in Anambra State on Monday 8th
May 2017, said the main objective of the movement was to register grassroots
presence in the state.
In his words “we shall all come down
here to deliver the State to the ruling All Progressives Congress” According to
him “No man born of a woman can stop us from taking over Anambra State come
November 18”.
Ordinarily, we would have ignored
Okorocha’s comments as a mere political oratory to cajole the people as is
common in this clime, but beyond this it is important to point out the high
level of inflammatory and inciting comment that is somewhat a declaration of
war on the Anambra people.
Why has Rochas who has failed
woefully as Governor of his Imo state now taken it as a point to come to
Anambra to do this if not to foment trouble?
Rochas who is not even sure of his
standing and his political future in his own state is now trying to take
Anambra state, albeit by hook or by crook. It is common knowledge today across
the nation that Rochas cannot win any election in his state due to his negative
political records.
It is also widely known that Roachas
election and entry into Imo government house was done under controversial
circumstance and this is also what he wants to foist on Anambra State. But he
should know that Anambra is not Imo State and the people of Anambra will surely
resist such evil attempt or plot.
From what he said, he and his part
the APC are planning to infiltrate Anambra with mercenaries. And we already
have intelligence report from the APC meeting which took place recently and we
have reports that its aim is to destabilize Anambra state.
Good enough Rochas realizes that
“Anambra is critical in Igbo politics” For Okorocha, he is setting up a
political structure in Anambra to unseat Governor Obiano because of this fact.
But this will not work.
We the people of Anambra and the
entire Igbo Youths are for Igbo solidarity and Anambra is the symbol of that
solidarity since it is today the custodian of the visible political
manifestation of late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu lofty and laudable legacies, as
represented by an APGA government.
By implication, anyone who is trying
to take Anambra from APGA is trying to take away the soul of the Igbo race
because Anambra through APGA is the only surviving child of this Igbo political
legacy.
Other regions, parts and peoples of
the country have the political parties where they have their roots, and for the
Igbo it is APGA. So any attempt to attack or destroy this root is to say the
least sacrilegious. We the Igbo people will rise up against this planned invasion.
All Igbo should see this travesty.
Rochas’s statement is indeed callous and uncalled for especially at this time
when the Igbo people are trying to carve a new political future for themselves
based on equity and justice, virtues which every true Igbo man would live for
and even ready to die for.
What APGA represents is the legacy
bequeathed to us by our leader Ikemba Ojukwu and we will not compromise that
uncommon heritage. It is a symbol of our solidarity and oneness, a unifying
factor and an embodiment of the Igbo race and idealism. APGA is not just a
political party but a family and kindred spirit of the Igbo race wherever they
may be.
Igbos everywhere must be alert to
stop this evil plan. Rochas and his cohorts have already begun to register people
of questionable origin clandestinely with the aim of moving them to Anambra to
rig the election. Their plan is to use the army, police and other security
agencies to harass the people of Anambra to have their way in the November 18
poll.
They are boasting of their access to
federal might to manipulate INEC and other government agencies to undermine the
collective interest of Anambra and the entire Igbo people. But this will not
work. We will stop them on their tracks.
The Igbo people are not known to be
cowards or sell outs. We cannot be cajoled or deceived by a plate of porridge.
We are known to always stand up tall for what we believe in and if need be die
defending it. This we will do to defend the interest of Anambra and Igbo people
during the forthcoming election in Anambra state.
As a group that represents Igbo race
and youths across the world we state categorically that this statement credited
to Governor Rochas is indeed a threat to the security and stability of Anambra
and the South East as a whole.
The implication of the statement is
that they are planning to import mercenaries and as they have done in other
places to unleash mayhem.
We therefore call on President
Mohammadu Buhari to call Rochas to order before he brings an ant infested
maggot home with very dire consequences. We want it to be on record that any
attempt to subvert the will and aspirations of Anambra and Igbo people will
meet serious resistance.
APGA is the only symbol of the
legacies left behind by Ikemba and we will not throw it to the dogs. We will no
sale it for any amount. It is our pride and our goodly heritage which we hope
to preserve and expand to our children and unborn generations of Igbos.
Ojukwu had told us to keep it in his
remembrance and this we are committed to doing. Other political parties are
sponsored by other ethnic groups and when the chips are down they use it as a
basis for negotiations, we cannot do otherwise or be left homeless.
We must say that this unwarranted
attack from Rochas is very unfortunate, un-called for and regrettable. It
sparks a feeling of regret that we the Igbos have shown so much good-will that
some of our adopted sons in Igbo land who are now in high offices are now trying to spit in our face; after all
there are unanswered questions as to their ancestry till date.
Indeed we believe that Okorocha “is
an example of what a leader should not be”. Who is he to speak of
providing leadership for Indi-igbo when he cannot pay workers salaries and now
tries to intimidate Imo retirees to forfeit 60% of their areas of their sweat.
Are these the kind of ideas we need
at this critical time? He should be worried of trying to unseat Governor Obiano
who does not only pay salaries as at when due but has also revolutionized the
entire economy of Anambra state, despite the recession crippling many states.
Let it be emphasized that Governor
Obiano has not only been paying and increasing workers emoluments; he has also
introduced credible palliative measures to mitigate the suffering from the
current economic recession. This is apart from the myriads of development
projects across Anambra state.
Governance is not about making empty
statements. What are the achievements of Rochas in Imo state? Can he
match the sterling achievements of Governor Obiano?
Governor Okorocha whose so called
free education policy at all levels has been a fluke and at best an over
bloated media hype. His other so called programmes have also been discovered to
be mere flash in the pan as the people of Imo have seen through his tricks.
The pedestal of long term service
and integrity where serious Governors like Obiano stands cannot take the likes
of Okorocha.
The world knows Chief Willie
Obiano’s antecedent as an accomplished banker of repute and a great juggernaut
in the finance industry. But the same cannot be said of Okorocha as Nigerians
truly know him for other reasons, including the tricky kite of contesting for
the Presidency just to corner some change into his pockets and the records are
there for everyone to see.
But the record of Governor Obiano
intimidates Rochas. Obiano had made it in the banking industry and retired as a
Director of fledging bank. Obiano was indeed a career professional and
consummate banker whose record both in the private sector cannot be rubbished.
Rochas and his co travelers would
have to deal with this record and his outstanding performance as governor of
Anambra in their indecent attempt to supplant Governor Obiano. Indeed it is
clear that they will surely fail.
WE ARE FOR PEACEFUL, FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN ANAMBRA
STATE.
Signed:
N. CHUKWUKA
National Publicity Secretary
