The political movement of the Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha will soon witness a jolt with the governor reported to be in fresh romance with another party rather than the All Progressive Congress, APC.
Feelers from Government House, Owerri, indicate that in no distant time, Okorocha will unfold his 2015 agenda which includes public announcement of his movement to a new party named Labour Party and declaration to run for a position.
Trumpeta learnt that it is no longer news in the political family of the governor that APC will not be the platform Okorocha will seek to run for any election in 2015. Associates of the governor have been keeping mute over this matter but their body languages and comments in hushed tones signal the end of the governor’s stay in APC.
Reasons for the movement to Labour Party by Okorocha may not be unconnected with the utter rejection and disdain people in the Southern section of the country have for the APC. Apart from not gaining acceptance in the non Hausa states, two governorship elections held so far (Anambra and Ekiti states) since the formation of the party, saw APC recording dismal outings.
At the home front, authoritative sources in Government House, Owerri, revealed that the governor and several of his lieutenants are deeply worried over the rejection of APC by Imolites. It was learnt that based on present political permutations and calculations ahead next election, the APC may continue to witness dwindling political fortunes as the party’s diminishing image problems may affect Okorocha’s chances in 2015 should he use the party to seek elective position.
It was also learnt that in the absence of the a predominantly Igbo party, APGA, fielding a presidential candidate and considering the mutual understanding between APGA and PDP, Ndi Igbo will and indeed people of the state will undoubtably show sympathy to President Goodluck Jonathan should he carry PDP flag in 2015, election thereby diminishing APC’s status in the South East and indeed in Imo state.
Another factor that can be said to be the last straw that broke the camels’ back in Okorocha mixed feelings over his continued stay in APC, was the controversial issue of special identification for Northerners resident in the state at the wake of the discovery of bombs at Winners’ Church Premises, Owerri. Okorocha’s camp was pissed off that it was not only a party man Suleiman Kanu Sumaila, a lawmaker, that raised the matter to national attention, but APC members kept mute in what was referred as “incriminating silence” while senators form other parties verbally pummeled the chairman of APC Governor’s Forum on the floor of the Senate when the matter came up.
Apparently disgusted with the suspected sabotage of APC senators who never kicked or offered any resistance and following another resolution never to apologize to the governor, Okorocha and his followers are said to be having a different thinking since there is no protection for him from APC members in the upper legislative chamber.
To worsen Okorocha’s worries in APC, the South East zone of the party again joined the fray to caution the governor over the ID card, saga. The statement from the zonal publicity secretary of the party, Osita Okechukwu was not welcomed in good faith in the governor’s political family as it was believed to be an indirect indictment on the state Chief executive.
Trumpeta was duly informed that preliminary discussions have commenced as early romance has been observed between the political camp of the governor and the national office of the Labour Party, in Abuja.
What informed the Imo APC led by Okorocha into the fresh movement may not also be linked to the fact that the Labour Party like APGA has filial partnership with PDP shown by Dr Olusegun Mimilko who enjoys rosy relationship with President Jonathan.
The inability of Okorocha to break through and rejoin PDP and APGA, his former parties may have led to his renewed mobile antecedents extended to Labour Party.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday dared Okorocha saying it would not apologise to him over its condemnation of the governor’s proposed policy on residents of the state from Northern parts of the country carrying separate ID cards as a means of checkmating Boko Haram infiltration in the state.
Governor’s spokesman had demanded an apology from the senators over the matter it had earlier condemned.
The leadership of Imo State All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has alleged that some desperate politicians both within the party and outside have continuously turned Devil’s advocate with recurring false scandalous prophecies of an impending doom and crisis in APGA. However, they went ahead to submit that there is no crisis in APGA.
Addressing journalists at the APGA office along Egbu road, Owerri recently, Hon Tony Mgbahurike and Hon John Iwuala, maintained that the party is at peace with the Chief Victor Umeh and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi led National executive, stressing that the recent dissolution of Imo State working committee was in line with the party’s constitution.
They also debunked remorse’s making the round that it was dissolved to favour a particular/certain governorship aspirant but averred that the action was in the interest of the party to further strengthen it for greater electoral readiness ahead 2015 general election. It was also submitted that re organization of the party became inevitable as APGA has turn a beautiful bride for most aspirant in the forthcoming general election.
The stakeholder however warned the incumbent governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha, whom they described as a political rolling stone to stop approaching the leadership of the party secretly for an opportunity having become governor with APGA platform only to dump and insult the party with unprintable words and names such as cultural group. They said APGA’s door is permanently shut for him and adviced him to try another party with his stock in trade.
Contributing, a Federal House of Representative aspirant for Abor Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Mr. Paschal Nneji, acknowledged that there is no crisis in APGA because the party is made up of like minds, progressives who think the party first.
He told rumour mongers to close their faces in shame as their antics can not work.
