‘Tinubu is crying more than the bereaved and Atiku’s departure is not good for APC’ – Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State , has reacted to a statement credited to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, which said there would be no automatic ticket for Pres. Buhari in 2019 Presidential Election, as against the position of APC governors.Governor Okorocha who reaffirmed his position in supporting President Buhari in 2019 election, also talked about former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar exiting the All Progressive Congress (APC), and returning to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in his interview with Punch.

“I have taken a holistic view of our party, it (Atiku’s exit) is not the best because no matter how anybody thinks, Atiku carries some political weight. His leaving our party is not the best” he said.

On Tinubu, Gov. Okorocha, who further revealed that Atiku’s position in the party will be filled, said;

“The (Tinubu’s) statement came to me as a surprise, come to think of it, I never referred to him. I refer to the governors of Nigeria including the PDP governors and I said only one or two of them have not joined yet. .

Since I made the statement, no governor has said something contrary to what I said. I am surprised that Asiwaju will now be speaking for the governors. He looks like somebody crying more than the bereaved. .

I did not see reason for the statement actually. But he commands my respect and I don’t want to join issue with the National Leader of my party. What I mentioned was for the governors and secondly what I said is support. .

The word I use is support that does not mean there will not be primary. Governors can only contribute only 37 votes, we still have over 5,000 votes up there. What I was talking about was governors. I was not talking about other party members. Governors alone do not determine the flagbearer of a party.”