PDP raps Okorocha over support for Sheriff

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee has lambasted Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state for apparently throwing his support behind Senator Ali Modu Sheriff over his recent Court of Appeal victory.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye in Abuja on Wednesday, it said the attention of the leadership of the PDP Led by Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, had been drawn to the statement credited to Okorocha, wherein he said the PDP should respect the ruling of the Friday, February 17, 2017 Court of Appeal Judgment and not to heat up the polity.

The statement said the utterance of the Chairman of APC Governor’s Forum was not surprising since “he is not known to be a person who exercises caution or restraint before making unguarded statements.”

It added: “His constant vituperation on matters small or big is indicative of an over excited mind desperately in need of a large dose  of tranquilizer.

“It is curious that while he would want the PDP to accept the verdict of the court of Appeal and not exercise its right of appeal to the Supreme Court, he was nowhere to be found when

Sheriff refused to accept the judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt but instead proceeded to the court of appeal.

“In any case, what is Okorocha’s special interest in the PDP matter? Need Nigerians any further conviction that the APC is the unseen hand stoking the fire of crisis in the PDP and Sheriff and his cohorts mere puppets in their hands?”

The National Caretaker Committee noted the “desperate attempt by APC to exonerate itself only further exposed

its duplicity,” saying: “The Police excuse for preventing a peaceful assembly of distinguished PDP members on alleged but unproven ‘security threat’ is

an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians. It is the duty of the Police to provide security if they suspect any breach of peace.

“It is a gross abnegation of its responsibilities to prevent people from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right of peaceful assembly.

“No one is in doubt today that the Police have submitted itself to total control and direction by the APC.”

The PDP faction urged Okorocha to advice “his friends (or agents in the PDP) to fully comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.”

It pointed out that the status quo ante May 21, 2016 “is the full National Working Committee (NWC) elected at previous conventions and not the cronies that he  singlehandedly appointed and who are parading around as officers of the party.”

The statement said that the PDP remain resolute in its determination to pursue its case to its logical conclusion in the interest of justice and Nigerian democracy.