Immediate past governor of Ebonyi, Chief
Martin Elechi on Sunday decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Elechi, a
two time governor of Ebony, registered for the APC at his country home in
Echialike, Ikwo Local Government Area, in front of national party leaders.
The party leaders were in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, for a thanksgiving church service for the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his ill-health,
after which they moved to Ikwo.
According to Elechi, he decided to join APC due to his love for Buhari and the current state of the PDP occasioned by its protracted crisis.
The party leaders were in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, for a thanksgiving church service for the recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari from his ill-health,
after which they moved to Ikwo.
According to Elechi, he decided to join APC due to his love for Buhari and the current state of the PDP occasioned by its protracted crisis.
“I knew
Buhari 49 years ago when I started the movement for the creation of Ebonyi as
he intervened during my arrest with nine other comrades, by officers of the
defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO).
“I was
interrogated while standing for nine hours and he as the Brigade Major in
Abakaliki at that time, ordered our immediate release.
“I thank
God for his health as he had favoured the people of Abakaliki and will triumph
in his onerous task of rescuing the country from misrule.
“He is the
person Nigerians are waiting for as the Boko Haram and corruption issues could
have been indescribable if God had not brought him to power,” he said.
The former
governor said that he was proud of the PDP due to the democratic ideals of its
founding fathers, but its present leaders have truncated the ideal.
“I was
elected governor on two occasions under its platform as it used to be the pride
of Africa, but was suddenly ravaged by self-inflicted crises and afflictions.
“In 1983
when I was the Secretary of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the old
Anambra, the budget for the national elections in Anambra and Imo, now South
East zone, was N170,000.
“In 2015,
however, the budget for my impeachment was N3billion and this was followed by
the distortion and malpractice recorded in the primaries and congresses to
elect the PDP candidates.
“Those who
were heavily bribed and intimidated with oaths were elected to participate as
delegates as court injunctions were illegally secured to perpetrate these acts
“Armed
security men surrounded people’s homes during the elections, ballot boxes were
snatched and all forms of impunity perpetrated,” he said.
He
described the APC as the alternative for Ebonyi people and the Igbo race and
thanked the party for offering him and his supporters, a political platform to
identify with.
“Three
years ago, I would have attacked anyone who said Ebonyi belongs to APC, but
currently, me identify with PDP–God forbid,” he said.
Dr
Ogbonnia Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, thanked Elechi for the
decision and noted that President Buhari will be pleased to receive the news.
“What you
did today will never be forgotten in the history of the state as we all should
support President Buhari to actualise all his objectives for Nigeria.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Elechi was the leader of the campaign team when Onu contested Ebonyi governorship in 1999, on the platform of All Peoples Party (APP).
Alhaji Kasheem Imam, APC National Leader called on the Igbos to identify with the APC.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that Elechi was the leader of the campaign team when Onu contested Ebonyi governorship in 1999, on the platform of All Peoples Party (APP).
Alhaji Kasheem Imam, APC National Leader called on the Igbos to identify with the APC.
Mr Emma
Enukwu, the APC South East Zonal Vice Chairman, noted that he was in the state
on the orders of the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun to ensure that Elechi
registers with the party.
NAN reports that APC national, zonal and state leaders attended the thanksgiving service and Elechi’s declaration.
NAN reports that APC national, zonal and state leaders attended the thanksgiving service and Elechi’s declaration.
The
declaration was preceded by a thanksgiving church service at the St. Theresa’s
Catholic Church, Abakaliki, to thank God for President Buhari’s recovery from
ill-health. (NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment