Former Imo state governor and senator representing Imo West, Mr Rochas Okorocha has said his support for Presidential Muhammadu Buhari ambition in 2015 and membership of All Progressives Congress earned him the scorn of people of Southeast geopolitical zone.

He made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen.

Okorocha was a member of the splinter group of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA that teamed up with the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and All Nigerian Peoples Party to form APC. Also in the alliance was the defunct New People’s Democratic Party, nPDP.

Responding to question on his suspension from the party by Mr Adams Oshiomhole-led national working committee, the former Imo state governor claimed he was a victim of a witch-hunt. He declared that APC could lose its grip on the electorate by the time President Muhammadu Buhari exhausts his tenure in 2023.

He said: “If anything, the party repaid me evil for good. There was no challenge I did not face or bad name I was not called in my state.

“They brought in people who fought me when I was building the party at the state level to fight me over control of the party.

I don’t want to talk about it but my party did not treat me well.

“I have never thought of leaving the party but what happens next will be determined by time. My only worry is that the party may disappear with the exit of Mr Buhari if the ongoing injustices are not addressed”.

Speaking on the ongoing investigations by Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) which he further claimed was instigated by his successor in office, Governor Emeka Ihedioha, Okorocha said the incumbent Imo state governor was only chasing shadows.

According to him: “I have thrown a challenge to any bank who feels that I have borrowed money from it on behalf of Imo state to come and contradict me.”

Nigerian Tribune