Okorocha refused to be registered as APC member in Imo State, says Uzodimma

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has said that he desires to have every genuine All Progressives Congress (APC) member in the state registered, and identified post-power-syndrome as the problem of most political leaders in Nigeria today.

Uzodimma spoke at the Sam Mbakwe EXCO Chambers Government House Owerri, Thursday, while receiving APC Registration and Revalidation Appeal Committee. He noted that “the management of self aggrandizement, self esteem, and inability to reason that yesterday is gone and today is a new vista is the major problem of most past leaders who still think they can carry over the powers they held yesterday.”

Addressing the Committee whose members hinted that former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume complained that they and their supporters were barred from the recent registration and revalidation exercise, Governor Uzodimma informed that those who are complaining about the APC registration exercise in the state are those who never drew near to get registered.

He stressed that he never as a person delegated anybody to intervene or obstruct anyone from registration.

The Governor did not mince words to say that the monitoring Committee assigned to the National Registration Team was mandated to make sure that all members and even non-members of APC were registered in the exercise.

He restated his resolve to “uphold the APC manifesto to change things for the better for Imo people in particular and Nigeria in general,” saying in doing so he is “returning the power of APC to the people following the democratic process.”

Uzodimma told the team led by Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu that his interest is the growth of the party in Imo State and beyond and not necessarily the interest of an individual or groups.

He demonstrated his team spirit by showing the team members of his cabinet who served as Commissioners in the Okorocha administration, which he said goes to show that his concern is APC and not any particular individual.

The Governor said he personally offered to accompany Senator Okorocha to his ward for the former governor to get registered or revalidate his APC membership but he threw away the offer and preferred to talk about structure.

Uzodimma regretted that some people find it difficult to manage life after power, noting that nothing will deter him from registering as many Imo people as would want to identify with the APC.

He pointed out that soon the Party Congresses will be held in the State for people to choose who they want to preside over their affairs and that “if nothing different is done it will be a Direct Congress because as the Governor of Imo State I was a beneficiary of that process.”

Uzodimma reiterated that Imo State is APC and that there is no need for anyone to pretend about it.

Briefing the Governor on why they came to see him, the leader of the APC Registration and Revalidation Appeal Committee, Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu explained that they have come to critically look at the complaints and petitions of members who claimed that they were not captured, and or were prevented from registering during the Party’s National Registration exercise.

He said they are in Imo to ensure that no member or even non-member who is interested in joining APC through registration is disfranchised, noting that “as a family APC is ready to accommodate all that genuinely want to be a member of the Party.”

The visit was witnessed by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku, the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem and his deputy, Amara Iwuanyanwu,  the Chairman of Imo State APC,  Prince Marcon Nlemigbo, members of his Executives and other APC dignitaries in Imo State.