Okorocha: Hatred for Tinubu in Southeast Worse Than What Buhari Faced

Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu faces greater hostility in Imo State and the Southeast than his predecessor, the late Muhammadu Buhari.

Okorocha made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he maintained that Tinubu had done nothing wrong to warrant resentment from the Igbo people.

The former senator argued that the opposition to Tinubu in the region should not be confused with dissatisfaction over state-level political issues.

He recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) experienced significant challenges in Imo State during Buhari’s administration, insisting that the former president faced less hostility than Tinubu.

He said, “You must understand that when we are talking about APC in Imo State, the time we had issues as APC was when Buhari was in government.

“In fact, the hate for Buhari can’t be compared to the imagery hate for Tinubu in Imo State or in the whole Southeast.”

Okorocha further argued that some of the resentment directed at Tinubu could be connected to dissatisfaction with political developments in the region rather than the President himself.

“So people must be careful not to mistake a transferred hate or transferred protest for what they don’t want as a governor to mean that it’s a protest against Tinubu,” he said.

Defending the President, the former governor maintained that Tinubu had maintained cordial relationships with Igbo people, particularly during his time in Lagos.

“Tinubu has done no wrong to any Igbo man, his best friends in Lagos are Igbos. Let me tell you that, with my emergence now with this ticket, Tinubu will win in Imo State,” he added.

Okorocha also challenged Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to seek legal redress over their political differences, insisting that the facts should determine the outcome of any legal proceedings.

“I challenge Uzodinma to go to appeal, when the facts have spoken you can’t manipulate the law,” he said.

His comments come amid ongoing political tensions within the APC in Imo State and growing manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.