Okorocha Cautions APC Members in Bayelsa over Violence

Amby Uneze in Owerri

Worried about the reported shootings that led to the death of one person at a meeting of the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State last Friday, Governor of Imo State and Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum, Chief Rochas Okorocha has cautioned members of the party against following the bad examples of other political parties in the country especially those allegedly known for thuggery.

The governor observed that going by the name and philosophies of the party, “it is believed that the members should be progressive-minded fellows who should not in any way see the desire for political position as a do or die affair and averred that the ugly culture of political thuggery should remain totally divorced from APC”.

He noted that the issue of who becomes or who should be the chairman of the party in the state was such a minor issue that could be resolved either at the state level, zonal level or at the National level and should not have warranted some people resorting to violent clash.

The Imo State governor maintained that the APC as a party and the members must do things differently to show the political light and exemplary political character by not engaging in actions and inactions that would run counter with the ideals of the party.

He explained that APC as the ruling party and indeed the largest political party in the country at the moment, “there is no doubt that the demand for positions either elected or appointed within the party would be on the increase”, but remarked that such development should not give room for violent clash.

He urged members of the party across the states to borrow a leaf from the conduct of the APC governors across the nation who have maintained decorum and high level of tolerance even in the face of deliberate provocation by the opposition.

Okorocha said the leadership of the party would work assiduously to ensure that the Bayelsa incident does not happen again in the party since the issue of who leads the party in any capacity and at any level could be amicably resolved using the party settings and ordinances.

He also asked devoted members of the party across the nation to also monitor closely the activities of infiltrators into the party.