The Governor of Imo State, Mr Rochas Okorocha, says there is no division among the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the emergence of the governorship candidate of the party in Ondo state, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Addressing reporters in Ondo State on Tuesday, Governor Okorocha said that the party was united and indivisible.
The governor disclosed that all the APC governors had met and resolved to work for the victory of the party and its candidate, Mr Akeredolu in the forthcoming governorship election.
Governor Okorocha was in the state’s capital to rally votes for Mr Akeredolu from the Igbo community in the state.
The Imo State Governor emphasised that the emergence of Akeredolu as the flagbearer of the party was solely the choice of the people of the state.
He said: “Your majesty, just to announce to you that I am here on behalf of all the APC governors. We are now 23 in number, plus one, twenty four and this includes all the APC governors in the south west, all APC governors in the south east, North central, North east, north-west and south-south. All of us are together.
“We are just here to support our in-coming colleague. Let me correct one impression. All APC governors met and have resolved to support our candidate. There is no division in our family, and APC is still one
“That is why the father of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, will be coming on Saturday, and will address the people of the state to clear the air on those who doubt the unity of our party. We are united
“What brought us together is not interest to acquire power. It is the interest to bring the necessary change for economic emancipation of our great nation
“So, I am here to inform you that I came and Aketi has been chosen by all of us and we are solidly behind him. We are unshakably behind him
“In the next couple of days, the dust of Akure will raise to usher in the new governor. We believe in Change and believe me, my prayer is that Ondo state should not be outside this change arrangement
“We looked carefully and we did not force anyone to give us a candidate. We want the people to choose who they want and Akeredolu is as a result of that exercise.
“Akeredolu was never imposed by anybody. No party leader gave him any money, We allowed Akeredolu to come here and test his popularity but the people has spoken and since the people has spoken and given him to us, it is now our responsibility to support him and give him success
“Akeredolu is a man who has a heart of gold. He does not believe in primitive accumulation of wealth. He will make a good governor. He is not wealthy. He is not rich, not because he doesn’t have the wisdom to make the money, but because he believed that it should be shared equally”.
In his response, the Deji of Akure and paramount ruler of Akure kingdom, assured the governor that the people of Akure are solidly behind the APC and Akeredolu.
“By the grace of God, Akeredolu will get there, so Akure people are solidly behind him. There is no doubt about that. When we have the state and have the federal , what else do we need?
“Whatever we want, we will get it, so this time, whatever Akure wants, Akure should get – federal appointments and state appointments. We are behind the incoming governor. We will be prepared for the President’s visit.
The IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha also visited the Ezendigbo 1 of Ondo State, Igwe Gregory Iloehika and his other leaders of the Igbo people in Akure to seek their support for Barr Rotimi Akeredolu in the November 26 governorship Election.
