APC INVITES OKOROCHA TO JOIN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Says we need him to help us rescue Nigeria
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday drafted Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, into the race for its presidential ticket.
The party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Imo State Liaison Office, that having made a success of his stewardship in Imo State, the party would want Okorocha to help the opposition party rescue Nigeria from the grip of poverty and underdevelopment imposed on it in the last 15 years by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
If he heeds the call, Okorocha will be jockeying for the APC’s presidential ticket with strong contenders such as a former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Also interested in flying the party’s flag in the 2015 presidential election is Okorocha’s counterpart in Kano State, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Odigie-Oyegun applauded Okorocha for completing the project, whose foundation was laid 17 years ago during the tenure of Col. Tanko Zubairu (rtd) as military governor of Imo State, but which was abandoned by successive administrations.
He described Okorocha as one of the most vital resource persons the APC has in its fold, saying that he has displayed rare vision, energy and commitment to the development of infrastructure, job creation and delivery of positive results in all spheres.
“He is obviously one of the most vital resource persons we have. We have several men vying for that position (presidency) and I am proud to say that he is one of our most vital resource persons. He is obviously a man of vision. “He is one of the spearheads of change in this country. He has proved to us that he has rescued Imo State. We need him to help us rescue Nigeria,” he said.
Odigie-Oyegun explained that contrary to the perception in some quarters that the APC was too young and therefore unprepared to take on the PDP in the 2015 polls, the opposition party was not new to the game as it was formed by four legacy parties that had been actively involved in politics and had garnered all experience.
According to him, the PDP has run out of ideas and needed to give way to the APC to give Nigeria a new lease of life. On the recent defection by some eminent members of the APC to APC, Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the insinuation that the APC was losing ground and challenged critics to also consider the influx of some persons into the opposition camp.
“We bid them farewell. Those who truly believe in change and believe that Nigeria deserves the best and that Nigeria will become better have stayed. Just as we have lost people, we have gained people,” he added.
In his remarks, Okorocha said the PDP had exhausted its package for the Nigerian electorate and should quit the stage in 2015 to allow a party with men of vision, courage and commitment to service to take over the reins of power.
“They have been there for almost 15 years and there is nothing to show for it comparatively. This shows that they have done their best. Let us commend them for doing their best but they cannot do better than their best.
The truth is there is need for a change so that we can get people who can do better. They have done their best but their best is not good enough and you cannot give what you don’t have.
Even if you give PDP 100 years, there will be no power supply, we will still have insecurity; we will still not have jobs.
So that is why we are saying we want people who can fix Nigeria,” he said.
Source: New Telegraph