Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said there are forces working against Igbo presidency in 2023 election.

He said the present battle he is undergoing with the likes of Senator Hope Uzodinma, Ifeanyi Araraume and his deputy, Eze Madumere, is as a result of some selfish politicians building up their political career for 2023 election.

According to the governor, who briefed newsmen on Tuesday, Araraume and other of his political detractors are only being used as a tool to rubbish his intention of contesting for any elective position in 2023.

Governor Okorocha said: “Uzodinma is not fighting Okorocha, neither is Ifeanyi Araraume, Eze Madumere nor Emeka Ihedioha. But, they are being used as instruments to fight the governor because of the 2023 ambition of some big shots in the country. And that tells the story of the Igbo. We don’t support our own, rather, we destroy our own.

“What is happening in Igboland today cannot happen in any other place in Nigeria, because Igbo have made themselves shopping centres, where people can come, shop and buy people to destroy their own. It is not a good omen.

“I want to announce that I’m still running for the Senate for Orlu zone and my party is All Progressives Congress (APC). I’m going to make the difference. We are also supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for second term because he has done well to deserve that. I’m supporting Uche Nwosu, too, because he believes in the state and won’t be going anywhere. Imo needs someone with vision and passion to carry on with the development plans of the state.

“The people of the state joined the APC, in 2015, in spite of the blackmail that trailed the party in this part of the country, because of the confidence they have in me, not only as their governor, but, as their son. Imo people never joined APC because of any other person in Nigeria, they joined the party because of me and nothing has changed in the relationship because they are still with me.”

Meanwhile, Imo State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Ugochi Nnenna Okoro, has said Governor Okorocha needs a committed and focused person to succeed him after two terms in office.

Okoro said this was necessary in view of the fact that governance is a continuum, which needs to be sustained and improved upon, rather than starting all over.

She spoke with newsmen in Kaduna, yesterday, at the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, on Development of Solid Minerals as an Alternative source of Revenue for Economic Development.

She said: “Imo State has satisfactory high level of transformation across the state, therefore, the citizens need the continuity in governance under APC, towards the sustainability of transformation in all sectors.

“Governor Okorocha brought a lot of human development to the state, therefore, the people need a reliable hand, who can continue with the development.

“If you do not put somebody who knows about the rescue mission to continue with the abundant project in state, there will be problems, and it is not good for the future of the state.”

However, the finance commissioner expressed dissatisfaction over the recent political crisis within the ruling party in the state.

•Sourced from a Daily Sun report

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