‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Daily Courier – Former governor of Imo state and presidential aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared before the presidential screening committee hours before the curtain was raised on the exercise.
Okorocha who has been in economic and financial crime commission detention for the past seven days was granted bail by an Abuja high court on Monday May 30 provided the bail conditions were met.
The former governor stormed the venue of the screening with a hood of supporters before being quizzed by the Chief Odigie Oyegun led committee.
Okorocha while speaking to journalists after facing the exercise appreciated Nigerians for the solidarity while his ordeals lasted in EFCC cell.
“First, I will like to thank all Nigerians for their prayers and support. I’ve never seen such show of love and kindness to me, and I must confess that Im so happy of the kind of calls I and prayers I got. and those who stood by me and my family at this very trial period of my political life. I’m very grateful to them. And I said to Nigerians, thank you very much for your support” he said.
On his presidential aspiration, he said: “Right now, I’m very much focus on issue of my primary. Its been seven days out of the whole system. But now I’m back, I want to focus back primarily because of my love and passion for this nation. I believe that a new Nigeria is possible, and we can do it. Some of these things you see me going through are natural challenges associated with leadership. I see it as a comma and not a full stop in my life because after every comma, A sentence will follow.”
He commended the panel and gave reasons why he is the most qualified among the 23 aspirants. “For me, I was able to explain to the panel that I’m in this whole thing because of my love and passion for this nation. And I think I understand the problem of this country and I can find the solution and not theoretical but practical and I have one point of my agenda which is Creating of wealth for this country and for this nation. Most of us do not understand that the problem of this nation is what we think it is or the statistics that we mention. The unemployment are all the problems of this country.
“Lack of wealth creation: We must call forth the results of our land and develop the resources of our land immediately to create sufficient wealth; only when this is done that the productive sector of economy will make any meaning and our foreign reserve will increased and used to be engaged because the gap between the population and wealth is what you call insecurity, that is what they call the problem factor, out of school children. So, seek ye first wealth creation in this nation and any other thing shall be added on to you. Let’s stop singing the songs of statistics of inflation rate, It will not stop unemployment rate, those who keep growing in arithmetical progression; If you don’t address the disease which is lack of wealth creation, which comes from Vision. unfortunate, I’m coming into this business because of my vision not ambition, but I have vision for Nigeria.”
On his take on the contentious issue of consensus, Okorocha said: “Consensus is needed, but consensus is that some of us must agree that is what is mean by consensus. There must be a platform where all of us can agree and to say listen, let’s look at what other party is doing and who can really match the other party and most importantly who can cut across this nation. Sectional leaders now cannot help APC, those who are champions of their tribe or religion cannot lead APC but those who are uniuniversally acceptable that can reach out to the north and south, a person that signify unity is well to go and that is what our party should look at without sentiment because already we have a challenge.”
He promised to address members of the press in no distance future concerning his ordeals with the EFCC.
At the close of the screening exercise yesterday, at least 23 aspirants eyeing the plum job of president have been screened by the panel.
Below are the names of all the presidential hopefuls who appeared before the screening committee at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
1. Chukwuemeja Uwaezuoke Nwajiuba
2. Badaru Abubakar
3. Robert A. Boroffice
4. Uju Ken-Ohanenye
5. Nicholas Felix
6. Nweze David Umahi
7. Ken Nnamani
8. Gbolahan B. Bakare
9. Ibikunle Amosun
10. Ahmed B. Tinubu
11. Ahmad Rufai Sani
12. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
13. Oladimeji Bankole
14. John Kayode Fayemi
15. Godswill Obot Akpabio
16. Yemi Osinbajo
17. Rochas Anayo Okorocha
18. Yahaya Bello
19. Tein Jack-Rich
20. Christopher Onu
21. Ahmad Lawan
22. Ben Ayade
23. Ikeobasi Mokelu
The presidential primary to decide who flys the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023 general election is scheduled for June 6, 2022.
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