Okorocha Tackles Tinubu, Insists APC Governors Will Support PMB For 2019 Election
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has described the statement credited to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 election by the governors as unfortunate, saying that the governors will support the president come 2019.
Okorocha, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists after he was conferred with a doctorate degree from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, at the weekend, said that nothing will change the endorsement of the President by the governors for the election.
It would be recalled that Tinubu had, in Akure, during a private visit to the leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio- Political Group, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, ruled out automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election.
The national leader declared that “No governor can appropriate the power of endorsement to themselves” adding that “an individual’s opinion does not matter at this stage”.
Okorocha, who noted that he endorsed the President on behalf of the governors, said that since he endorsed the President, none of the governors has said anything to the contrary.
His words:” The statement credited to our National Leader came to me as a surprise, come to think of it, I never referred to him. I referred to the governors of Nigeria, including the PDP, and I said only one or two of them have not joined yet.
“Since I made the statement, no governor has said anything to the contrary to what I said. I am surprised that Asiwaju will now be speaking for the governors. He looks like somebody crying more than the bereaved.
“I do not see reason for the statement actually, but he commands my respect and I don’t want to join issues with the National Leader of my party. What I mentioned was for the governors, and secondly, what I said is ‘support’. The word I used was ‘support’ and that does not mean there will not be primaries.
“Governors can only contribute only 37 votes, we still have over 5,000 votes up there. What I was talking about was governors. I was not talking about other party members. Governors alone do not determine the flag-bearer of a party.
“If you recall, I said if not for Buhari, I would have run for presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But I have found him to be a credible man and he still has four years’ term to complete. I will allow him to complete that then I will go back to my political trenches because I will still run for Presidency anyhow.
“I consider myself young enough to wait till 2023 and I don’t hide my stand on any issue. But for now, my support goes to President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Speaking on the defection of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from the APC, Okorocha said, “I have taken holistic view of our party; it is not the best, because no matter how anybody thinks, Atiku carries some political weight. His leaving our party is not the best for the party.
“But all said and done, since he has forged ahead by going to another political party, we will make amends and his place will be filled accordingly.
“There is nothing to be jittery about the outcome of the PDP’s convention. We are very confident that our presidential candidate to be, President Muhammadu Buhari, is up to the task.
“He has impeccable track record that it would take an unusual presidential candidate of a rival political party to match.
“This is the strength of our party coupled with the fact that APC governors are performing, we are sure we will deliver in 2019.”
