After suspension, Okorocha says Oshiomhole is blinded by 2023 ambition

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has accused the National
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole of
plotting to destroy the party in the Southeast geopolitical zone
for his selfish political permutations in 2023.

The Imo governor, who was responding to his reported expulsion
from the APC by the National Working Committee of the party, said
that Oshiomhole is blinded by his 2023 ambition and has thrown
caution to the wind in pursuing it.

Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam
Onwuemeodo, noted: “Adams Oshiomhole was determined right from the
outset to destroy APC in the Southeast and unknown to party
chieftains from the zone who had genuinely supported his
chairmanship.

“He is playing the politics of 2023 in 2019 and in playing it he
has thrown caution to the wind”.

He went on: “In all the Southeast states there are crises and
all arising from the fraudulent manner he conducted the
primaries.

“In 2015, Governor Okorocha had joined the merger that gave
birth to APC at the risk of his second tenure and was called all
sorts of unprintable names.

“Yet, he won the governorship election, delivered 24 out of the
27 members of the House of Assembly for APC, two House of
Representatives members and one Senator.

“In 2019, Oshiomhole felt that such a man should be treated with
disdain. He handed over the governorship ticket of the Party to
Hope Uzodinma who has never resigned his membership of the PDP on
the floor of the Senate like others did and giving all kinds of
flimsy excuses.

“And if Oshiomhole had meant well for APC and Imo people in
particular, would he have given the ticket of the Party to a man
facing five corruption charges and having travel ban slammed on
him, to be the party’s Candidate”.

He added: “In the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National
Assembly election, Governor Okorocha won in ten, out of the twelve
Local Government Areas in Orlu zone to emerge winner for Imo West
Senatorial District.

“He also delivered four House of Representatives Candidates on
the platforms of APC and AA respectively, with one Senate Seat and
two House of Representatives Seats outstanding.

“And when the APC members across the nation are still
celebrating the success of the party in the Presidential and
National Assembly elections, Oshiomhole in his wisdom or lack of
it, felt that the best action in the circumstance was to suspend
two governors who did well in the election, even when he played
safe in 2015 and 2019 in Edo State without any known pressure.

“Again, Oshiomhole coming with the purported expulsion this time
was only acting out of the fear that God in his infinite Mercy
could give Governor Okorocha a role to play in the Senate, in the
overall interest of the nation.

“The truth is that Oshiomhole is only labouring in vain to play
his own part of the deal that warranted his giving out the tickets
of the party to non-deserving elements like in the case of Imo.

“Finally, APC especially in the Southeast and in Imo in
particular will outlive Oshiomhole.

“Men like him hardly sleep with their two eyes closed. They
always sleep with their eyes open because they have murdered sleep
with their actions and inactions.

“And unfortunately for him the purported expulsion can’t stand
because the law has taken care of it even long before now”.

The Mastermind of Attack on DCP Kola Okunola Nabbed in
Abuja 

The Police have arrested Hon. Sunny Adi, the mastermind and
ringleader of the irresponsible, unprovoked and unwarranted attack
on a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Kola Okunola in Twon,
Brass, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, 24th February, 2019. Two other
persons arrested in connection with the incident are  (i)
Tamarapreye Victor, ‘m’ 34yrs and Azi Newton ‘m’ 34yrs.

Hon. Sunny Adi, a candidate of one of the major political
parties in the House of Representatives Elections in Brass
Constituency, Bayelsa State, was arrested in his hideout somewhere
in Abuja this morning, 1st March, 2019 in a well-coordinated covert
operation. His arrest is in line with the directive of the
Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni for the
immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent
prosecution of all persons involved in the Sunday, 24th February,
2019 attack on the DCP in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State.

It would be recalled that while leading the team providing
protection for INEC officials, voters and materials, DCP Kola
Okunola was brutally attacked and molested by thugs led by Hon.
Sunny Adi.

Meanwhile, effort is ongoing by the Police to apprehend other
members of the gang involved in the unwholesome attack on the
officer.

As we go into the Governorship/House of Assembly Elections
slated for Saturday, 9th March, 2019, the IGP reiterates his
earlier warning that the Nigeria Police Force under his watch will
not condone any act of assault against any member of the Public,
including the personnel of the Force legitimately assigned to
protect the sanctity of the ballot.

ACP FRANK MBA

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA