SENATOR Ken Nnamani, a former Senate President, is now the leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South-East, while the party in the zone would support President Muhammadu Buhari to do his second term in office.
These were parts of the decisions taken at the meeting of the South-East All Progressives Congress, (APC) Stakeholders, held at the Imo International Convention Centre, IICC, Owerri, last weekend. The event which saw men like Ken Nnamani, Emeka Offor, Ifeanyi Araraume, George Moughalu, Tony Eze, Ebuka Onunkwo, Jombo Offor, Eze Madumere, members of the National Working Committee of APC and other prominent politicians in the zone in attendance. The key figures present had met behind closed doors before the meeting proper.
In his speech, the host Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said, “now that Igbo leaders are together in APC, Nigerians will hear us. There is a vaccum of leadership in the South-East APC. I am a governor. My brothers Chris Ngige and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu are Ministers. Hence the importance of Ken Nnamani coming at this time. With Ken Nnamani, the question of who is the leader of APC in the South-East has been answered. Ken Nnamani is the leader of APC in the South-East”.
He continued, “Senator Nnamani should then work with other leaders like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Jim Nwobodo and a host of others to give Ndigbo a political direction. Those who have joined the party or who want to join should do so to build the party and not to cause confusion. APC is the right party for the Igbos, and the only party that can guarantee Igbo Presidency. We are going to support President Mohammadu Buhari for the eight years he is going to lead the nation. This is the time for Ndigbo to come and work together. We are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived South-East. The Igbos played bad politics in 2015. Today, we have lost a lot. We are not anywhere because of our bad politics.”
Governor Okorocha also disclosed that three serving governors in the South-East are in touch with him and will soon join APC, adding that being the only APC governor in the South-East did not give him joy and advised that other political leaders in the geo-political zone should take the advantage of the moment and come into APC.
In his speech, Senator Ken Nnamani said the Igbos needed more of their leaders at the national leadership of APC where decisions were made, and even at the National Assembly and other strategic areas and levels.
The former Senate President said “Some of us going into APC are not doing so because of hunger, but in the interest of the Igbos. We should play Politics of ideas, and avoid abusive words. Ndi-Igbo do not have the ingredients for opposition Politics. We do not have the media or business or money to play opposition Politics, but we won’t ask for handouts”.
He Continued, “how the Yorubas voted in 2015 should be an eye-opener. They voted both sides, but the South-East put their eggs in one basket. I am not of the view that everybody should be in APC, but those have seen the need should do so. If governor Okorocha has realized that he needs more hands in APC, he should be commended. We are worst enemies of ourselves. If we work together we will go very very far. This is the time to play National Politics”.
Senator Nnamani explained “some people could say we have the Deputy Senate President, but he does not attend the meeting of APC caucus where important decisions are taken. We must think ahead. The benefit of that office is therefore personal and does not enhance the Political fortunes of the South-East people”.