Tinubu says South-East now in Nigerian mainstream politics
President Bola Tinubu has commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State over his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the defection of Enugu State governor signifies the coming of South-East to the Country’s mainstream politics.
The President represented by the Vice President Kashim Shettima quoted Ali Mazrui, the great Kenyan writer that once described the Igbo as the Nigerian Jews, geographically mobile, economically enterprising and educationally ambitious.
He said “Sadly, in the last 10 to 12 years, Ndigbo, one of the most vibrant tribes in Africa, have been in the margins of the Nigerian politics”.
According to him “with the coming of Governor Peter Mbah; with the continuous energy being exhibited by Governor Hope Uzodimma and Governor Francis Nwifuru, I believe the Ndigbo have come to the mainstream of the Nigerian politics.
Read also: APC welcomes Mbah, stakeholders to party
“I want to assure you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our leader, is a man for all seasons and all people. A man who has a sense of inclusion, a rare capacity to listen and believe in merit over sentiments, has made the APC the most formidable political party in Africa.
“To Governor Peter Mbah, let me say this, you are already one of us. You’re a progressive through and through. And I believe you had a broom hidden in your umbrella for all these years, waiting for the right moment to bring it out.
“We want to warmly welcome you to the APC. From the convention and constitution, the governor is the leader of the party in his state. Your Excellency, you’re now the leader of APC family in Enugu State.
“I’m the vice president, but the leader of APC in Borno State is Prof. Babagana Zulum. The President of the Senate is number three citizen in Nigeria, but the leader of the party in Akwa Ibom State is Governor Umo Eno. Also the Speaker of the House is Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas is the number four citizen in the country, but the leader of APC in Kaduna State is Senator Ubani Sani. We’re one family tied in common destiny.
“I want to assure all of you that you are very much welcome in the APC and we’re one big family. Be rest assured that you’ll be treated justly and fairly and all the federal government initiatives that have been planned for the Southeast, will certainly reach the South-East.
“I want to thank most profoundly, our leaders in the Southeast. The courageous and generous Hope Uzodimma and Francis Nwifuru and now we have an addition in the kitty, the performing governor of Enugu State. In deed tomorrow is here.”
Earlier, Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of APC, welcomed Enugu State to APC and thanked Governor Peter Mbah for taking this right decision, saying, “You took your people from Egypt to the promised land, from depression to progress. Today we are seeing the new Enugu State. The PDP cannot house the kind of progressive mind that you have.
Read also: Enugu governor Peter Mbah dumps PDP, joins APC
“As I was coming, I saw the roads. Mbah have built new roads. The infrastructure you built speaks so loudly. We saw the water, the electricity, the education sector. He has touched virtually all aspects in Enugu State. That is why we need him to come back to the progressive side so that he can help to expand the renewed hope agenda so that it can reach the grassroots. Therefore, on behalf of the National Working committee of the millions of members of the All Progressives Congress, your Excellency, I welcome you to this family. I welcome you to APC. I welcome you to success”.
