Lopsided Appointments: Okorocha Lambasts Critics

Amby Uneze

For the first time, the Imo State Governor and Chairman, All Progressives Congress ( APC) Governors’ Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has reacted to the appointments made so far by President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that as the president, he has the right to make appointments that would make him succeed, even as he criticised those lambasting the president over his appointments.

The governor spoke at weekend during the end of his meeting with selected stakeholders in the state, urging them to continue supporting the APC government at all levels in the country.

As the president’s appointments so far affect the South-east, Okorocha said: “What I can only do is to continue to appeal to the president to consider the Southeast in his appointments. And as far as I am concerned, the president had executed what the office empowers him to do, and it is believed that he did that in the best interest of the nation.”

According to the governor, “Again, most of the appointments the president has made are like his personal staff. I don’t think the South-east will ever be forgotten in this administration. We will get our due when the time comes. In fact, if you ask me, I would say we should be more interested in the projects coming down to the region and as much as we can get. The projects will bring about development of the South-east region.

“On the appointments as they concern the region, there is no cause for alarm. It is too early to judge Buhari’s intention. I think he means well. Let us give him a chance. Nigeria is one nation, and it is for all of us. We must start thinking about the nation rather than thinking about sentiment of where we come from.

“Although the South-east had expected so much, we believe all will be well with the Buhari presidency and for the development of the region. It is wrong for some section of the people to begin to use the issue to incite the people of the Southeast against the president. The government is about to celebrate its one hundred days in office, and the appointments are just beginning to come. By and large, the South-east will get their dues.

“The point is that we cannot begin to judge President Buhari with the appointments so far made. We cannot obviously use it to judge his intention. I think he means well for the nation and all geo-political zones. So, let’s give him a chance.”

Okorocha also restated his commitment towards ensuring that many federal projects are cited in the South-east zone during the present federal administration than during the previous ones.

On the essence of the meeting he held with political stakeholders in the state, Okorocha said it was aimed at charting the way forward on the government’s programme of beautifying the state to attract investors, adding that the exercise will be extended to Okigwe and Orlu.