*Says only Buhari keeping party together
*Your large heart stands you out, says Buhari
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo-West Senatorial zone, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on Monday declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) “has died a natural death”.
Okorocha, who has however remained a chieftain of the APC, said respect for President Muhammadu Buhari was the only reason the party is still intact, warning that there could be imminent implosion in the party ahead of the 2023 general elections, if the leadership failed to address lingering issues.
The former governor who addressed a section of the media ahead of his 58th birthday anniversary, said: “There is no more APC. What we have is respect for President Muhammadu Buhari. That is what is keeping us together.
“What we have is our respect for the person of President Buhari and we still believe that something can be done.”
Continuing, the former governor, who is currently in a battle for the soul of the party in his state stated: “In the South-East, literally, we can say we don’t have APC.
“We just managed through the Ben Johnson way to get one state and that does not make our image good.”
Insisting that there is no more APC as a party, Okorocha maintained that the party died the day its leadership abandoned the progressive and democratic ideals on which it was founded, adding that apart from President Buhari, the other leaders of the political blocs that merged in 2015 were practically schemed out by forces that joined the party.
He said: “Just permit me to give you the inside of APC: this word APC was formed by four major political parties that had governors. One was the CPC-led by President Muhammadu Buhari; ACN-led by Ahmed Tinubu; ANPP-led by Ogbonnaya Onu, and APGA-led by me. We brought in our structure; every other person fell into this structure.
“The PDP group came in and joined us. I gave the name APC, designed the logo and that was the beginning of the party and we had an understanding.
“There is no more APC. What we have is respect for President Muhammadu Buhari. That is what is keeping us together and we still believe that something can be done.
“That trust and respect is what we still call APC. Outside that respect for President Buhari, and the trust and belief that he could wake up one day and correct all these injustices and make it fine, that’s the only thing that is keeping the APC.
“If not that, I don’t think there is anything like APC, because people are beginning to get fed up. Again, PDP is not even better. The party has its own challenges.
“In 2023, I think people are going to vote according to their consciences. People are beginning to realise that a political platform is not the best to give you what you need.
“People are beginning to be more politically aware that individuals are more important than political parties.”
*Your large heart stands you out, says Buhari
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described Okorocha’s ‘large hearth’ as one of the features that has kept him going.
The President, who felicitated with former governor on his 58th birthday, described him as one whose philanthropy and kindness cuts across the nation.
The President went further to extol the former governor’s virtues noting that Sen. Okorocha’s large heart and detribalized outlook on the country will continue to stand him out for more recognition and appreciation.
He prayed God to grant him longer life and good health to keep serving the country and humanity.
