By Peter Uzoma
Strong indications that the only option left for Governor Rochas Okorocha to salvage his loss of APC structure is the expected victory of former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshomole in the forthcoming APC Convention in Abuja.
After round of loses that forced his followers to run to court, Okorocha has opened another front to turn around the result of the Imo State congress of APC.
Part of the tactics is the dragging in of Oshomole who has declared to take over from the incumbent, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, as the National Chairman.
Okorocha who is beating on all cylinders to resist a complete rout by the “Allied Forces” a group of coalition, reportedly dragged the former Edo governor into his rescue mission project for the congress when both men met President Buhari in Aso Rock last weekend.
Even as the details at the private talk were not made public, Trumpeta learnt that it is not unconnected to the conduct of Imo APC congress and outcome which was unfavourable to the governor and his followers.
A Government House source revealed to this Newspaper that it is not yet Uhuru for the Allied Forces as Okorocha is stopping at nothing to resist them. The source who pleaded anonymity said that there is a secret move to use Oshomole to redeem the loss. “Even if the coalition succeeds now, if Oshomole enters, he is going to reverse the whole outcome to favour our governor. By then, the backbone of the Allied Forces, Oyegun would have gone and won’t be in office to support them” began the ally of the governor, who does not want his name on print.
“The details of the meeting was not made public as it was a tactical move that should not get media attention”, the source further added.
However, following certain public protests against some personalities in Imo State alleged to have linkages to the sponsorship of the state government, the APC Stakeholders’ Forum has asked the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha respect the office he occupies and stop acting in contrast to the tenets expected of the office of the Governor.
The position of the stakeholders’ Forum of Imo APC is coming at the heels of suspected sponsored protests launched at the forum members and the National Organization Secretary of the APC Senator Osita Izunaso, who is from the State.
APC stakeholders’ Forum Convener, Dr Theodore Ekechi who has been a thorn in the flesh of the administration of Okorocha further called on security agencies to hold Okorocha responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the State.
He condemned the spate of protests allegedly sponsored by the governor, describing such action as “senseless.’’
“We wish to draw the attention of security agencies and the general public to the spate of senseless protests which we believe are being sponsored by the governor of Imo.
“We particularly draw attention to the sponsored protests of 17th and 23rd of May, at the APC headquarters and by hired miscreants against our coalition and Sen. Osita Izunaso in particular.
“From the conduct of the so-called protesters, it was self-evident that they did not even know why their services were procured,’’ he said.
Ekechi warned that the sustenance of such senseless protests with Imo taxpayers’ money “portends very grave danger.’’
He said that this was being done in a bid to blackmail the state stakeholders’ and some members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
It would be recalled that at the end of the congresses, a group of protesters had gone to the party secretariat to lament over the activities of Izunaso. It also protested with placards to show resentment to the conduct of the congresses which the stakeholders has upper hand.
