Former President of the Senate, Pius Anyim, alongside former gubernatorial candidates of opposition parties in Ebonyi, at the weekend, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Anyim, formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the APC with some of his supporters during the grand finale of the APC campaign for the Local Government Area (LGA) elections in Abakaliki.
Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), defected alongside a former senator and PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, Senator Obinna Ogba and that of the Labour Party, Chief Edward Nkwegu.
Also some former members of the national and state Houses of Assembly as well as former Local Government Area Chairmen among others, all from the opposition also defected to the APC.
Anyim, in his remarks, said that Ebonyi had always been a one political family and the massive defection of opposition members to the party, attested to such fact.
The former Senate President said his intention to join the APC had been hatched for long as remarked by former Governor David Umahi.
“The time I wanted this to happen, Umahi was not ready and the time he wanted it, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted.
“We however, thank God that it has worked smoothly as we all are presently under the same roof,” he said.
The former SGF said that the defection was not just about him but the Ebonyi people as consultations were widely made before a final resolution was taken.
“We wanted to appreciate Governor Francis Nwifuru’s great works and reconciling various political divides of the state, making them stay under one roof.
“We are aware of the enormous economic and socio cultural challenges confronting the country and the need to patriotically support President Bola Tinubu to surmount the challenges.
“We intend to collaborate with all federal appointees from the state especially the Minister of Works, Umahi to support and step down President Tinubu’s life uplifting policies to Ebonyi people,” he said.
The former Senate President urged Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu as he steers the ship of the nation to peace and prosperity.
Anyim added: “We have resolved to collapse the whole of Ebonyi state into one political family and that political family is All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We note the enormous social, political, and economic challenges facing Nigeria today. It is therefore not a time for political shadowboxing but rather a time for patriots to collaborate at all levels to support Mr President as he navigates our nation through these challenging times.
“Accordingly, we have resolved to collaborate with our governor and all the federal appointees from Ebonyi State to upscale our support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We have resolved to use this opportunity to call on all well-meaning Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu as he steers the ship of our nation to peace and prosperity.
The APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, commended Governor Nwifuru for sustaining his predecessor’s ideals of enlarging the APC in the state and the South-East.
“The APC is presently de-marginalising the south east zone by placing it in the mainstream of national politics.
“The ministerial among other appointments given by President Tinubu to indigenes of the zone, massive infrastructural development in the zone among others,, attests to this fact,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru commended the decampees for their bold decision to join the APC and assured that they would be adequately accommodated in the party.
“I thank my predecessor and father, Senator David Umahi, for laying this strong foundation for the party’s growth in Ebonyi and President Bola Tinubu for his fatherly support to us in all ramifications.
“Ebonyi will develop more rapidly when its leaders and people stay under one roof, to actualise the people’s charter of needs mantra of the administration,”.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi thanked President Tinubu for ensuring the growth of the party in the state and urged Nigerians to support him in making the country great.
Goodwill messages were delivered on the occasion by Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, national officers of the APC, among others.
According to him, Ebonyi Stakeholders has never spoken with one voice until the emergence of Gov. Nwifuru.
“To our Governor RT. Hon Francis o. Nwifuru, I must say that the credit for today’s event goes to you who has created a conducive political atmosphere in Ebonyi state for this to happen. Your Excellency, we are deeply grateful for the leadership you have provided and the honor you have done to us. We must also convey our gratitude to the state party chairman of APC for his untiring effort to bring the event of today to perfection, our dear chairman Mr Stanley Okoro Emegha, we are indeed grateful”. He said.
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