Okorocha Lacks 'True Igbo Spirit', Says APGA National Chairman

The decision of Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to abandon
the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on whose platform he won
election, has made him to become a drowning politician, the national
chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh has said.

Speaking with journalists in Umuahia, Abia State capital, Umeh said
Okorocha embarked on a "misadventure of leaving APGA for the All
Progressives Congress (APC)".

He also closed the door against any attempt by Okorocha to return to
APGA, saying the Imo governor had become a political liability.

"Okorocha has been swallowed by his misadventure and it is normal that
he will be saying anything. Of course, he has been sending people to
me that he will like to return, but you see him quickly refuting it",
he said.

The APGA national chairman said he had always said no to Okorocha's
clandestine request to return to the party that made him, but because
he "did not behave well, we can't entrust him with APGA again to do
anything", adding that it was now obvious that Imo people have
rejected Okorocha, hence his desperation to return to APGA in order to
repair his battered image.

Umeh dismissed Okorocha's rescue mission agenda as a ruse, noting that
the Imo governor lacked the Igbo spirit to implement such a programme.
.
"We have capable people that can rescue Imo State. He said he is on a
rescue mission but rather, he imprisoned Imo State. We have capable
people in Imo who will rescue Imo people, people with true Igbo spirit
that is lacking in him", the APGA leader said.

He said that Okorocha's brand of politics was against the interest of
Ndigbo, "he's not somebody you can describe as a proud Igbo man", he
added.

According to Umeh, APGA would in 2015, take control of Imo and hold
Okorocha "accountable for his misdeeds", and pay him back in his own
coins for betraying the party after what he called "strenuous efforts"
to make him governor.

Umeh also vehemently denied the insinuation that he collected $2
million to re-admit Okorocha in APGA, "I have proved myself in Nigeria
politics as somebody who can't be purchased by anybody no matter how
much money you have".

He added: "I am so focused and concerned on the affairs of this party
and Igbo people and if you want to achieve that, you will not allow
money to influence you".