IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Remarks By Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

On The Visit of PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to Abeokuta October 11, 2018

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I am happy to welcome the distinguished leaders of goodwill who have led the PDP Presidential Candidate and my former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to my humble abode and I welcome the Presidential Candidate himself.

Let me start by congratulating President-to-be, Atiku Abubakar, for his success at the recent PDP Primary and I took note of his gracious remarks in his acceptance speech that it all started here.

Yes, when it started, it was meant for Atiku to succeed Obasanjo.  In the presence of these distinguished leaders of goodwill today, let me say it openly that we have reviewed what went wrong on the side of Atiku.  And in all honesty, my former Vice-President has re-discovered and re-positioned himself.  As I have repeatedly said, it is not so much what you did against me that was the issue but what you did against the Party, the Government and the country.

I took the stand I had taken based on the character and attributes you exhibited in the position you found yourself.  I strongly believe that I was right. It was in the overall interest of everyone and everything to take such a position.

From what transpired in the last couple of hours or so, you have shown remorse; you have asked for forgiveness and you have indicated that you have learnt some good lessons and you will mend fences and make amends as necessary and as desirable.

Whenever or wherever you might have offended me, as a Christian who asks for God’s forgiveness of my sins and inadequacies on daily basis, I forgive and I sincerely advise you to learn from the past and do what is right and it will be well with you. 

Obviously, you have mended fences with the Party and fully reconciled with the Party.  That’s why today, you are the Presidential Candidate of the Party.  In addition to appreciating all that the Party has done for you, may I advise you to work together with all those who contested for the Party’s flag with you as a team for your campaign.

There are still areas, nationally and internationally, where you have to mend fences and make amends.  You will know how to handle what is already out and what may yet be put out by the opposition.  But, I am convinced that if you continue with the attitude that brought you here with these distinguished leaders of goodwill, with remorse and contrite heart, the rest of the coast within and outside the country can be cleared.  And if there is anything I can do and you want me to do in that respect, I will do. 

I am sure with the right attitude for change where necessary, and by putting lessons learned by you to work, you will get the understanding, cooperation, support and mandate -  all at the national level.  With Nigerians voting for you, it will mean that you secure their forgiveness and regain their confidence. It will be with the hope or assurance of a Paul on the road to Damascus Conversion. After all, change and conversion are of man. I believe that with a contrite heart, change is possible in everybody’s life and situation.

For me, relatively and of all the aspirants in the PDP, you have the widest and greatest exposure, experience, outreach and possibly the best machinery and preparation for seeing the tough and likely dirty campaign ahead through. From what I personally know of you, you have capacity to perform better than the incumbent. You surely understand the economy better; you have business experience, which can make your administration business-friendly and boost the economy and provide jobs.

You have better outreach nationally and internationally and that can translate to better management of foreign affairs.  You are more accessible and less inflexible and more open to all parts of the country in many ways.  As Pastor Bakare, one-time running mate of the incumbent President said, “You are a wazobia man.”  And that should help you in confronting the confrontable and shunning nepotism.

As you know, along the road to where you are today, many leaders and ordinary people cooperated and overtly and covertly worked hard.  On your behalf, I thank them all.  May their coast continue to be expanded.  And when you become Nigerian President which, insha-Allah, you will be, remember what we did together in government – we ran an administration by Nigerians for all Nigerians where merit and performance count more than blood relationship, friendship or kith and kin.  Although some time and ground have been lost, you should endeavour to start from where we stopped and recover some lost ground, if not time. 

Please uphold truth, integrity, principles, morality and fight corruption, crimes and insurgency.  The fundamental law of the land, our constitution must be scrupulously defended. I make one demand and one demand on you today, I need you to say before God and man that you will always remain irrevocably committed to upholding ALL the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the whole country will remain your single indivisible constituency. 

Constitutionalism, popular participation and inclusiveness are pre-conditions for reversing the deficits of the past three and half years. They will ensure abiding faith in our indivisibility, oneness and faith in the survival of all against none.

The fundamentals for our development, economic growth and progress are hard and soft infrastructure.  Remember to always give adequate places in your administration to our youth and women.

All the authorities involved with the preparation, all processes and conduct of the election must ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

Once again, congratulations and I wish you well.  My distinguished brothers and leaders of goodwill, thank you for making this happen.  I will now count on you to encourage all hands to be on the deck to take Nigeria to the level God has created it to be – autopilot level.

God bless you all and God bless Nigeria.

After barely 6 hours from the announcement of the winner of the Imo APC Guber Primaries, a Socio-Political Group in Imo State called Ugwumba Youth Vanguard has congratulated Hon. Nwosu on his victory as the standard bearer to fly the flag of APC come 2019 General Elections.

In a release made available to Ameborave Media, the Youth Group through their Media Director congratulated Hon Uche Nwosu. Read below...

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PRINCIPAL UGWUMBA UCHE NWOSU.

The Leadership of Ugwumba Youth Vanguard, The foremost Youthful political structure of the Youthful Former Chief of Staff Imo State Government, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu wishes to use this auspicious time out to Congratulates our principal on his emergence as the flag bearer of APC for 2019 Governorship Elections.

We are aware of all the intricacies that played out during this battle as to who will clinch the APC ticket including the infamous Alhaji Ahmed Gulak led Committee that made away with the original result sheet.

It's not surprise to us that you came out victorious because we know for sure that you are a man with abundant grace. Even in the face of provocation, you displayed maturity which is lacking in most of our leaders today.

We assure you of our continued support and soul winning as we have entered another stage on our road to the People's House come May 29th 2019.

We at Ugwumba Youth Vanguard together with our Patrons say.... CONGRATULATIONS SIR!.

Ugwumba Vanguard...... Forward Ever!

Forward Ever........ For the Youth!.

Signed ✍️:

Comr. Wilson Amaefule 

Media Director, Ugwumba Youth Vanguard.

For:

Ezinwa Wisdom Nwauwa

Coordinator, Ugwumba Youth Vanguard.

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Ticket in the state.

Governor Okorocha polled 141,117 votes to beat his opponent, Senator Hope Uzodinma who got 1,359 votes.

Okorocha commended the electoral committee for its seriousness in ensuring that a peaceful and credible primary was conducted in the state.

He said, “All we have been saying in Imo State is give us a free and fair primary election”.

The governor also reiterated the party’s commitment to pursuing the course of democracy.

“Our party must know that there is no alternative to proper internal democracy”, he added.

The Former Chief of Staff to the Imo state Government, Uche Nwosu, has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primary election for the state.

Mr Nwosu polled a total of 269,524 votes to beat his closest rival Chuks Ololo who got 6,428 votes.

The Chairman of the Governorship Primary Electoral Committee, Brigadier General Ibrahim Agbabiaka, who announced the results said, “having scored the highest votes in the election to beat eight other aspirants, Uche Nwosu has been declared as the winner of the election”.

Mr Nwosu while reacting to his victory said, in the spirit of sportsmanship, he is extending his hand of fellowship to other aspirants who contested the election to work together for the success of the party in the 2019 elections.

He assured Imo indigenes that “if elected Governor of the state in 2019, he will not disappoint the people”.

Owing the the public endorsement of the current member representing Isu State constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly by the governor of the state, His Excellency Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha to go for a second term, and the dust it has raised, a frontline contender of the position, Arc. Chukwunonso Nnaji (Najas) has called on his supporters to remain calm and continue to be supportive of the Rescue Mission Government hence according to him, God has the final say.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri during the week, the renowned Architect and PhD student in the University of Nigeria, Nsuka in his comments made it clear that what transpired during the meeting held at the Government House with the governor truly, doesn’t represent the wishes of his people of Isu but as a core loyalist to the governor and committed member of “Believe Movement” a campaign structure of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu he would withdraw from the race hence, he is a good party man.

Arc. Chukwunonso Nnaji whose supporters vowed to stage a peaceful protest to the government house to register their disapproval over the Governor's decision to allow the current member to go for a second term thereby deny their popular choice the opportunity the fly the All Progressives Congress flag in area informed that after many pleads, the idea of staging protest has been suspended.

He stated that though the endorsement of Hon. Ngozi Obiefule by the governor doesn’t not reflect the wishes of the people of Isu in general but he has no other option than to accept the decision of the governor for overall interest of the people.

On whether he has plans to decamp to other political party to pursue his ambition, Najas as fondly called in clear terms stated that he has no plans to decamp and would in realization of Ugwumba Uche Nwosu become the governor of the state in 2019.

Making reference to the speech of His Royal Highness Late Nnajiemere Ezeudo I of Amuire Omanze in Isu Local Government that “It won’t cause any form of problem hence it shall be well”. He pleaded with them to remain peaceful and law abiding and continue to support rescue mission government.

A former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim has said that he was coasting home to victory during the botched All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship primary when thugs were detailed to disrupt the "peaceful" exercise.

Ohakim who ruled the state between 2007 and 2011 claimed that the thugs were brought by his opponents who joined APGA from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

While calling his supporters and the party's delegates to come out en mass on Saturday to complete the process of electing the governorship candidate of the party, Ohakim maintained that those who do not wish the party well will not have their way. 

Below is the Ex-Governor's speech on the truncated primary.............,......

The level of thuggery and brigandage unleashed against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) today, Friday October 5, 2018, by those who are sworn enemies of the Imo people had never occurred in the party.

APGA is the identity of the Igbo man and thuggery, brigandage are alien to the party and also negates the culture of respect, peace, hard work, love, live and let live which the Igbo people are known for. Importing thuggery and brigandage from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to intimidate or cow the people is a futile venture, because the Igbo man is known for his courage and protects his identity more than anything else.

One therefore wonders why the party known for its peaceful conduct suddenly witnessed unprecedented brigandage and thuggery in its governorship primary election, but the answer is that those who erroneously think that the Igbo people are for sale think that resorting to such unlawful acts is the only way they could stop Ikedi Ohakim who was winning the APGA guber ticket.

We condemn in strongest terms the resort to thuggery and brigandage and the unnecessary teargassing of the people who had conducted themselves peacefully. The delegates to the governorship primary election have sworn that they would lay down their life to ensure that no one thwarts their mandate and advised who resorted to importing thugs that such acts cannot work.

We thank the dogged supporters of Ikedi Ohakim and members  of the party, particularly the delegates for resisting those who wanted to bend their knees and for standing for justice, equity and fairness.

We urge you all to come out in large numbers also on Saturday, October 6, 2018 and vote your man, Ikedi Ohakim for just one term of four years. We must retrieve our state from marauders and cannot therefore sell dog and buy monkey. APGA is our party and we cannot surrender or sell it to anyone no matter whom he thinks he is.

Signed:

Collins Ughalaa, Chief Press Secretary to His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim.

05/10/2018.