South-east PDP Slams Okorocha over Poor Performance

Governor Rochas Okorocha

By Christopher Isiguzo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-east zone yesterday took a swipe at what it described as the “consistent tirade” of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State against the party, and asked the governor to focus on governance and leave frivolities.

The party’s National Vice-Chairman, South-east, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.) in a statement in Enugu, expressed dismay that the state, which was once celebrated for strides in education, peaceful co-existence and environmental renaissance, under Okorocha had slipped into the failed state category.

Akobundu said the state had “rapidly descended into a beehive for criminality and ecological disaster as a result of abandoned road projects by the present administration in the state.”

While noting that the PDP has dusted the opposition in delivering the dividends of democracy in the South-east zone, Akobundu challenged the governor to point out any worthy project he has started and completed in the state since “the mistake of 2011 when he came into office.”

“PDP states in the South-east namely Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu-are witnessing rapid infrastructural development by their chief executives who talk less and do more for their people. PDP states are also more peaceful,” the party noted.

It also expressed worry over the decision of the opposition governors recently to hold their meeting in Borno State, instead of any of the opposition states in the South-east or South-west, saying it was an indication that even the opposition was not comfortable to hold its meeting in Imo State.

“Since his government has no completed project to commission, the only way Okorocha can make news is by stoking up anti-PDP tirades in the hope that he can seduce Imo people into temporarily forgetting the pains of falling into the hands of a magician-governor whose accomplishments are invisible to human eyes. He claims to have constructed 305 new schools, 27 General Hospitals and 1000 kilometres of roads in 20 months but Imo people are asking where these projects are located so they can access them.

“The PDP, South-east zone has a message for Okorocha: South-east is solid PDP territory and trespassers labour in vain. The Transformation Agenda is running its course in the zone. Recently, the Federal Government awarded contract for the second River Niger Bridge to Julius Berger Plc. The Onitsha River Port has been completed and commissioned while the Oguta Port is under construction.

“The Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri are being remodelled while federal highways, tertiary schools and hospitals are receiving priority attention. Our sons and daughters are playing key roles in government whereas the opposition has nothing but second class status for our people. President Jonathan is indeed redeeming his campaign pledges to the zone and for these we are grateful,” the party stated.