Govs’ synergy with Buhari will boost S’East, says Okorocha

POLITICAL differences notwithstanding, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has urged his fellow governors in the South-East region to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and policies to move the zone forward.

Okorocha, speaking Monday on arrival from Abuja, where the zone’s governors held a meeting with President Buhari, urged others to implement their agreement to support the President.

“We are all determined to work with the President and he is also more determined to work with the South-East,” he said. “This whole imaginary worries is about what comes to the South-East.

“We have been able to establish a very wonderful relationship with Mr. President and have been assured that the zone would not be left out of the whole political and economic equations.”

Optimistic that the meeting would lead to development in the zone, he stated: “Whatever others enjoy we will enjoy. The President is a thorough Nigerian; he knows the country perfectly, having been on the seat before.  Nigerians are happy that he is their President and the South-East wants to be part of the whole thing. 

“Again, I cannot go today as the only governor from the South-East.  So, I appealed to Mr. President to extend the same love he has for me to my brother-governors from the region because I cannot be a lone player in the current national politics.”

Okorocha said he was grateful to his colleagues and that he was sure they would not betray the pact, adding: “I am also happy and grateful for their understanding and show of support for all of us to work together for the common good of our people.

“That is indeed the beginning of the relationship between the Federal Government and the South-East.  We are not talking about political parties now, we are talking about development and good governance.

“We also had a meeting with the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, and it was such a wonderful meeting that allowed us to relate directly with issues of MDGs and SDGs. 

“We have realised that dealing with the Federal Government without the states means a lot of things hanging in the air, but when states and local councils are involved, it gets directly to the grassroots, and that is what we were able to establish with the UN Secretary-General.”

He added: “For me, I made it quite clear that we should not be talking about just ending hunger and employment but should jam the developed world and start from where they are so that we are not left 1000km behind other nations.”