The intra- party crises that trailed the All Progressive Congress APC Primaries in Imo state assumed a new dimension on Tuesday as Imo people openly booed Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Dan Anyiam stadium, Owerri, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s Presidential campaign.
But President Muhammadu Buhari, in a swift move to halt further crises, advised the people “ not to allow intra-Party squabbles make them lose their balance”
The President, who was apparently and visibly disturbed by the show of shame displayed by the supporters tried to broker peace by advising the warning groups to ensure sanity, ahead of the campaigns
“I want you to maintain your balance and your senses. Don’t allow, intra or inter party crises to make you lose your balance”
“I am here to thank you for the time you spent waiting patiently for us, despite the weather.
“I don’t think there is anything new l can say about the performance of this administration.
“You will see that we have made remarkable achievements. We thank God we have achieved food security. We have stop food importation by over 90%.
The President assured the people that his administration will ensure that the trader money gets to every nocks and cranny in the country
“We will continue to listen to you to improve this country. Like l said over 30 years ago, we have no other country than Nigeria and we will continue rehabilitate this country to make it comfortable for everyone”
He also urged the people to vote massively for APC
Prior to the President’s arrival, the atmosphere was already charged prior to the arrival of the dignitaries, following delays that prompted many of the party faithfuls to move out of the stadium before the President could arrive.
BusinessDay gathered that a group loyal to Uche Nwosu, the Action Alliance AA gubernatorial candidate and son-in law to Governor Okorocha had sold a dummy claiming that the President will not attend the rally.
It was also gathered that the people were made to believe that Nwosu had the backing of the President for gubernatorial ambition, a situation that made the Director General of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council, Rotimi Amaechi to insist that the Party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole “ must come out and officially present the APC gubernatorial candidate, Hope Uzodinnma to the people of Imo before any other thing is done here and now”
As soon as Governor Okorocha mounted the stage, the people started shouting “ no, no, no”, with some at the background chanting “ we want Hope, we want Hope, we want Hope”
Okorocha in his speech which was punctuated at every interval by booing from the background, he assure President Buhari that his “victory come 2019 has been signed sealed and delivered”
“I want to remind Igbos that you first extended signs of love when you took Chuba Okadigbo as your running mate, but nothing good came out of it”
“It is not true that Buhari does not love Ndigbo. You have shown your capacity and capability in fighting corruption and developing infrastructure. You are a man of destiny and your destiny is now affecting the lived of the ordinary man on the street”
He however reminded Ndigbo that he is the founding father of APC in Imo state, as well as the only APC Governor from the south east, even as his speech was heralded by shouts of rejection
He recalled that those who now want to take over the AOC were the same people who “came after the us with the DSS are now claiming to be part of us”
“Here in Imo state, we are in charge. Those who opposed us are not from Imo state
“We just respect you Mr. President we have those who we had listed to speak here, but those who are speaking now are not the right people this is iberiberism chapter one verse one”
The interim Imo APC Chairman, Bassilleus Nnemigbo in his welcome address, assured the President that the State will vote massively for Buhari come February, 16th.
National Chairman of the Party, Adams Oshiomhole, in his speech declared that the “APC is not in alliance with any other political party for the Governorship of the state”;
He therefore used the opportunity to formerly present Uzodinnma as the gubernatorial of Imo state and handed over the party flag to Hope Uzodinnma.
“With Hope, we are bringing hope for infrastructure development in Imo state, with Hope, we have hope for victory come March 2nd, 2019” he said.
Hope Uzodinnma, in his speech, apologized to the President “for all the internal hostilities and assured that APC is on the grand for the success of the party.”
He presented 22 leaders of various groups including Martin Agbaso formerly of APGA who defected to the APC, members of nPDP
“ on behalf of people of Imo state, we disassociated ourselves from the adoption of the PDP Presidential candidate by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, without recourse to any of us”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
