What Okorocha, Orji Kalu and Oyegun Said at APC Rally in Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia

 

While speaking on Tuesday at the Umuahia Township Stadium during a mega rally organized to welcome defectors from other parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, called on the Igbos to play national politics ahead of the 2019 general election.

 

The governor urged Igbos to avoid playing what he described as ”primitive, regional and clanish politics”, and warned that such attitude would do them no good.

 

Also speaking during the event, former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu promised “to put everything I have to bring Abia to APC”, adding that "the party recorded less than six per cent votes in 2015 in Abia, he would work hard to beef up the figure to 75 per cent in 2019."

 

The party chieftain ​added that the party would deploy “federal might” to resist thuggery and any attempt to rig APC out during the 2019 polls.

 

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who also spoke during the event, said President Muhammadu Buhari was working hard to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria and also end the current economic hardship.

 

Among the politicians who switched their party allegiance were the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; the former Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike (PDP-Isialangwa North Constituency); former Deputy Governor, Chris Akomas (Progressive Peoples Alliance); former PDP governorship aspirant, Chief Uche Ogah; and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chief Azubuko Udah.

 

Others defectors were four members of the state House of Assembly, namely: Chief Ikedi Ezekwesiri (APGA-Umunneochi Constituency); Minority Leader, Chief Solomon Okogbuo (APGA-Bende South Constituency); and Chief Theophelus Ugboajah (APGA-Ikwuano Constituency).

 

Odigie-Oyegun, who expressed excitement over the calibre of defectors into APC in Abia State, notably Kalu, hoped that the party would take over the state in 2019.

 

He charged the defectors to brave the challenge to deliver the state to APC, saying he would hold them accountable during the election, and also told the rally about the efforts President Muhammadu Buhari to make the Nigerian economy better.

 

“There is no question we have some hardship in the land but every minute Buhari is working to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria,” he said.

 

He reeled out some of the foundational projects being executed by the Buhari administration to put the country on the path of economic recovery and sustainable development.

 

According to him, Nigeria remains one of the few nations in the world that does not have a functional rail system. “Until we have a functional railway, we cannot develop,” Odigie-Oyegun said and commended the present administration for constructing standard rail line from one end of the country to another.

 

He further said the administration had made a quantum leap on power generation, saying that with the current 7000 megawatts, the country would soon begin to enjoy stable power.

 

On agriculture, the APC national chairman expressed delight that Nigeria had become self-sufficient in rice production due to the Federal Government’s pragmatic policy on rice.

 

“So the message I am giving you is that the bad days are coming to an end. The good days are beginning by the end of this year,” he said.