The Policy Directorate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Think-Tank has in a press statement criticised the Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, who incidentally decamped from the party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), drawing a parallel between him and one time administrator of the defunct East Central State, late Ukpabi Asika.

The Directorate noted that it has observed among many other questionable behaviour of Okorocha that, “Since the APC Presidential victory in March, Governor Okorocha has made himself the de facto APC spokesman for the South-East. He has used his office to reach the APC prominently, insisting he was a true representative.”

An act the directorate described unsuccessful and thus, ‘False.’

The statement, also, stated that “Governor Rochas Okorocha as a parameter of the South-East sentiment fails woefully. The South-East is not amused or impressed. At all.”

It further claimed that, “Governor Rochas Okorocha ascended leadership on the back of a very populist hard-won South-Eastern sentiment, who thought the troops had come home. No. Rather, the Impostor had. Okorocha would betray his loyal electorate crying lack of vision regarding Nigerian affairs. ‘What, and whose vision?’ the APGA Think -Tank would ask. Okorocha would fail to outline any vision himself.”

The Directorate deplores Okorocha’s politics and antics saying, “My people, My people” He would shout to all and no one in particular. The hard-core APGA electorate will instantly distance themselves from his reach. ‘This is not what we voted for.’ Okorocha’s full value simply lay in his ability to provide stomach infrastructure. Some constituents would not allow that to go to waste.”

The Directorate in the statement compared Okorocha to Ukpabi Asika; “Okorocha carries the burden of Ukpabi Asika – A former Administrator of the then East Central State, in trying to explain the unpalatable to a very wary audience. Ukpabi somehow understood his unenviable role, and made peace with it. Okorocha however, will try to present his opinions as the standard and, shove the opinion down their throats. The South-East strongly refuses.

Ukpabi Asika with the support of the Northern oligarchy ruled over the South East for almost a decade (1967 - 1975). Ukpabi Asika did all he could to make it seem he had his people’s support, and that it was business as usual now that he had power. The South-East ignored Ukpabi Asika regime for years. Ukpabi never penetrated their veneer. Very True. Ukpabi’s disillusion was apparent for all to see. Ask any who lives today who Ukpabi Asika was, they barely remember.”

APGA in the statement believes strongly that Okorocha lacks what it takes to be a true representative of the South-East; “Enter Okorocha, whose penchant for representing opinions revulsive to his south-east constituency’s conventional wisdom is alarming the current electorate. The worst part is the more he talks, the more his electorate withdraws from him. If we were in his shoes, we would encourage him to stop talking. The more he spins the indefensible, the more repugnant it becomes. The South-East understands unfriendly political presentations and occupation. They’ve lived through it before, and will wait until this present shroud clears.

They do not need anybody clarifying what they feel and already know. This too, will come to pass. We probably began the long sitting stretch.”

•Photo shows Gov. Okorocha.

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