Jonathan’s Visit: Imo People Insist On APC, Say PDP Has Failed Nigeria

Posted by African Examiner Articles/Opinion, Ignatius Okpara Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

News Analysis by African Examiner’s Ignatius Okpara in Owerri

Despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent speech in Owerri, the Imo state capital, calling on the people of the area to embrace the ruling peoples Democratic party PDP, Imolites have insisted that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) remains their party in 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd from left) recently in Owerri, Imo state to welcome APC defectors into PDP

They maintained that APC, “remains the only platform that can guarantee a sense of belonging to Imo people and the entire Igbo nation”.

African Examiner recalled that president Jonathan, had fortnight ago, led some PDP stalwarts including its national chairman, Adamu Mu,azu, vice president Namadi Sambo, among others to Owerri, where he officially received some members of APC, including former Imo Governor, Achike Udenwa into the PDP.

President Jonathan had during the event, called on the people of the state to forget about APC and embrace the PDP, because its umbrella was big enough to accommodate all.

But a cross-section of Imo people who spoke to our correspondent recently in parts of the state, maintained that with the level of development achieved so far in the State under Governor Rochas Okorocha-led APC government, the people would lend their full weight behind the party, come 2015.

In his remarks, a middle age man, Mr. Hillary Obi, who hails from Amanato, in Ideato South local government area of the state, told our correspondent that no amount of “propaganda or “wayo” promises by the PDP will make us dump the APC, because the party has wiped away our tears in Imo state.”

“Since the APC led government came on board in Imo state, we have been experiencing free education, good road network, access to health facilities, amongst others, so, how can a right thinking fellow ask us to quit the party for PDP which made life unbearable for us for several years.

Another respondent, a business woman based in Orlu, Mrs. Jane Duru, from Mbaitolu council area of the state said we are comfortable with APC, so PDP people should leave us alone because their stock in trade is promise and fail”.

“They should allow us enjoy the good things of life which had eluded us before the coming of the current administration of APC”.

Also speaking with African Examiner, Dr. Peter Mbawuike from Ogbaku, Owerri, said President Jonathan’s visit to the state simply justified the cry against the neglect of the Igbos by the federal government despite “our support for PDP and him (Jonathan) over the years.

His words: “President Jonathan and his bunch of failed PDP fellows know that they have nothing to offer us, that’s why they told us they did not come for campaign. They know they can no longer ask our people to vote for them because the one we voted was in vain as we cannot beat our chest and point to what the PDP and their federal government did for us.

“Our simple consolation is that Igbos and the people of Imo State have become wiser. We now know better, because nobody can deceive us again” he stated.