National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Odigie Oyegun, has declared that the ruling party is not a sanctuary for corruption politicians desperate for protection from prosecution by agencies of government.
Oyegun made the admonition on Thursday while receiving two prominent chieftains of the main opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), who recently defected to the ruling party.
The duo were former Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita Giwa and Senator representing Cross Rivers Central, Senator John Enoh.
Tribune Online gathered that certain politicians under investigation by the anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) recently defected to the APC, fuelling speculation that their motive was to seek protection from prosecution.
But speaking while receiving the duo of Senators Ita Giwa and John Enoh, Oyegun said the party would not offer sanctuary for people running away from the long arm of the law.
The former Edo state governor further said that he was happy that politicians from his south-south geo-political zone are moving to the ruling party.
He said: “We welcome you to the headquarters of the APC. It is an honour that has been bestowed on only very few persons. One thing made your presence significant here. Traditionally, the South-south has been the heart of the unity and oneness of this nation, whether during the civil war or post-civil war.”
“Of course, our party does not have the presence it ought to have in the South-south. So when people of your calibre join us for the struggle, we from the South-west are particularly glad and happy.”
“We are in difficult times and troubling times. President Buhari is trying strenuously to rebuild the shattered economy, to diversify our economic potential which up till now most unfortunately rested solely and unintelligently on crude oil. The result of the collapsed economy in addition to the collapse in the crude oil market has disrupted our economy, which has manifested in the individual deprivations of Nigerians all over the country.”
“In spite of the obvious difficulties that the nation is passing through, people like you voluntarily wanted to assist in this responsibility of helping in nation building.”
“I know that those who don’t wish us well often tend to misinterpret some of these happenings as running away thinking that they would have protection from the EFCC. Of course, I am not aware in your case that anybody is harassing you with the EFCC. In any case, it is obvious and played out today that we do not offer sanctuary to anybody running from the arms of the law. The evidence is all over the place.”
“I have been severally criticised for saying that the change we stand for is something that can be accomplished and completed in the life of our present four year tenure. It will not be completed even in eight years.”
“The task is enormous, challenging and worth fighting for. We stand on the threshold of history. God put this nation called Nigeria together for a purpose and he does not make mistake. We have a manifest destiny.”
“We thank you for volunteering to join us to work. This is not a food is ready party; that has become very clear. I thank Mama Bakassi for doing so much for your people. I want to assure the two of you that you won’t suffer any loss of status or recognition and you will occupy your proper place.”
In her remarks, Senator Ita-Giwa said it was an erroneous for anyone to assume that she defected from the erstwhile ruling party as she claimed that the PDP was no longer in existence having been heavily polarized into factions.
“Coming to the party is like a home coming, and I am identifying with the people I have known before. I feel very comfortable identifying with the caliber of people in the APC. I will like to correct the erroneous notion that I decamped or they call it defection because there is no party to defect from. I personally stopped attending meetings, in the last two years, just because of the impunity and the injustice done to me.”
“It is on record that as at 2015, I had gone to the presidential candidate to say that I was leaving the party, so I was potentially one of the politicians that were forcefully driven out of the party.”
“Again, with all sense of modesty, as a politician you have to be good to your people for them to love you on whatever party you come from and till today, the love of my people are still electrifying today as when I started politics 25 years ago and I feel I should no longer waste my time and show my face or sit with this faction or the other because it is out of order.”
“That is why I kept away because there are two groups running around and some of us are too serious to show our face in that kind of place.”
“So, I am happy to be here to join hands with our people to put back the country together in my own little way and in any capacity I can.”
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