2019: Sam Eke emerges GPN presidential candidate, vows to revamp Nigeria’s economy

AHEAD of the 2019 general elections, the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), has through a consensus mode, picked Chief Sam Eke as its presidential candidate.

Eke emerged during the 11th National Convention of the GPN, which was attended by over 1,000 delegates of the party, in Enugu yesterday.

Speaking to newsmen after the six hours intensive national convention monitored by INEC staff, Eke said that the party was out to revamp the economy through extensive and intensive focus on agriculture just as the party’s name and manifesto states.

The GPN flagbearer noted that the party would involve major banks and international financial institutions to invest heavily in agriculture to create employment, security, food and wealth for Nigerians.

He said that the party, when voted into power, would also partner banks to finance turn-key projects in various sectors; thus, ensuring that each bank was noted for its huge role in an aspect of the economy.

According to him, GPN will run an all-inclusive government that will unite all Nigerians and give each one no matter tribe, religion and affiliation a sense of belonging. As in GPN, we believe in one united and indivisible family.

“In GPN we do not believe in religion or tribe but the supremacy of the party’s and national constitutions in order to give everyone a fair deal.

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“GPN is a party built on the foundation of discipline, principle and passion to serve the people,’’ Eke, who was previously a presidential candidate of the party in 2015 General Election, he said.

The presidential candidate noted that Nigerians had patiently waited for the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), to perform but they have failed the teeming population of the country, adding “as it stands, the ruling party have nothing positive to offer Nigerians’’.

“It is clear that APC cannot solve our problem since they do not have plans to do that. This can be seen in all downturns in every sector of the economy,’’ he said.

Eke, however, urged INEC and Civil Society Organisations to sensitise against the negative trend of vote-buying as well as put in place concrete modalities to check the negative new trend.

He thanked the party members for the confidence repose on him and giving him a second consensus supported presidential ticket as well as re-electing his-led executive of the party to work the second term.

On the other activities at the convention, motion to appro Congress guidelines for state; motion to change GPN Constitution and motion on membership status were all adopted by members of the party.

Other motions included; motion for waiver on all fees for Presidential candidates; motion to nominate GPN Presidential Candidate for 2019 General Elections as well as motion to dissolve national executive committee of the party.

Also speaking, the Enugu State Chairman of the party, Comrade Afam Ani, said that the convention was successful and peace, adding that the party members had demonstrated the discipline and principle inherent in the party as one big family.