By Chinonso Alozie

Birnin Kebbi— Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, said, yesterday, it was too early for Nigerians to judge elected officials on their performance.

Chief Rochas Okorocha

“We want to appeal to Nigerians not to judge us from past  sins or within the two years we have been in the mantle of leadership of this great country. You should judge us when the mandate entrusted to us expires,” Okorocha said at the opening of a retreat on policy synergy between states and the Federal Government, holding in Birnin Kebbi.

The governor reminded Nigerians that those currently at the helm of affairs came on board when the country was at the brink of collapse due to security and economic challenges.

He assured that the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration would meet the expectations of all Nigerians.

He said: “Our party has the best governors ever produced in the history of this country, from Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Lagos, Imo, Zamfara, Nasarawa to Kogi and others.

“When you visit those states, you will know that Nigerians have not made mistake in  electing us to lead their states affairs. We have resolved to fix the economy and it has already been  fixed.“

Okorocha explained that they were working with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to put  resources together to stamp out hunger in the country.

“We are united and Nigeria will always remain an indivisible nation. We don’t know who is Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo. Our determination is only to stamp out hunger and bring democratic dividends to our citizens. Hate statements should not be taken serious or regarded from anyone,” he said.

Okorocha commended Kebbi farmers for saving the country a lot of foreign exchange through their agricultural activities, especially rice production.

Earlier, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State said the governors would continue to work diligently in line with the APC manifesto, adding that they would intensify efforts to eradicate poverty.

Imo APC delegate election free, fair

Also, yesterday, Okorocha gave a pass mark to the Imo APC delegate election, saying it  was free and fair without any confrontations.

In a release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo  in Owerri, the governor said the peaceful conduct was because the APC in the state was united and their members collectively worked together.

He said: “The peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise in the 27 local government areas in the state with a total of 305 wards without any hitch or confrontation of any kind only confirmed the glaring fact.

“The APC in the state is a family and the leaders and members of the party in the state will continue to have that at the back of their minds both in their actions and  utterances.

“The bubbling spirit of unity and conviviality among the APC leaders and members in the state had occasioned the victory of the party in the past elections in the state and would continue to guarantee its resounding victory in future elections, including 2019.”

“The major factors that guarantee victory in elections is unity of purpose among the leaders and members of a given political party.

“So with the kind of exceptional unity in Imo APC, it will be difficult for other parties in tatters in the state and with multiple factions to constitute any threat to APC in any way.

“We also congratulate the National Congress committee members from the National Secretariat of the party for the conduct of the congress, for the job well-done.

“We also commend   the loyal and faithful members of the party for ensuring peace during and after the exercise and equally congratulated those who emerged as delegates at the congress.”