2019: We are not jittery over Atiku – APC govs says party would soon embark on reconciliation to appease aggrieved members
The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday, said the ruling All Progressives Congress was not jittery over the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
He said with the party primaries over, the APC would soon embark on reconciliation to appease those who were aggrieved as a result of the nationwide exercise.
Okorocha who is the Imo State Governor said these in an interview with State House correspondents after leading some governors elected on the platform of the party to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Other governors at the meeting also attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, were Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Kashim Shettima (Borno); and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos).
When asked if the party is jittery over Atiku’s emergence, Okorocha said, “We can’t be jittery. History is there to speak, history is very important. “Like I said, we are not going to get involved in this verbal war with anybody, we will be talking about issues.
” If you say “look you are not good’, we will tell you what we can do and what we cannot do and what others cannot do.
“So APC is not going to engage in that kind of talkshow, but we will discuss what our party can do for the people.”
Okorocha said the governors were at the Presidential Villa on behalf of their colleagues to congratulate the President on his emergence as the presidential candidate of APC in the 2019 election.
He said the governors believed it was a victory well deserved, adding that it further reaffirmed party members’ confidence in the President. He said the party was ready for the next election.
He added, “Our election this time will not engage in castigations, we will be talking on issues.
“Nigerians are tired of political abuses. What we want to be talking about are issues and track records of people involved in our elections.
“Nigerians are very wise now. Before they elect anybody, they will ask questions. What has been your track record? Who were you before and who are you now and everything about you?
“For that reason, we are confident that 2019, APC will pull through.”
