President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received in audience former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who recently defected from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Anyim was ushered before President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and his Ebonyi state counterpart, Francis Nwifuru.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting with the President, Governor Uzodinma described Anyim as a big fish and his defection a big plus for the ruling party as the party was already ripping the benefit of his decampment.
He noted that the coming of people like the former President of the Senate into the ruling APC, especially in the Southeast, which used to be a stronghold of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was an indication that the APC government is doing well.
His words: “We have started harvesting from it. If you recall, only few days ago, there was local government election in Ebonyi state. And in that election, it was like a one party movement. The entire local governments and councils were won by All Progressives Congress. The party that used to be the strong opposition party, PDP, were not anywhere to be seen. And majority of the leaders already defected to APC and they voted one way.
“So in the same manner, because democracies is about the people, when the people are now unanimously agreeing that government is doing well, and a political party is doing well, and they’re all collapsing into that political party, what is remaining is to address the campaign of calumny, arising from the propaganda of the opposition, which most of us here are used to”.
On the purpose of their visit to the seat of government, Uzodimma said “we are here to first thank the President for all the support that’s given to the people of South East and as the leader of our party of All progressive Congress, to formally inform him that the former Senate President, Ayim Pius Ayim distinguished senator standing by me, has family joined all progressive Congress and is now part of the bigger political family in the country. And we are excited about it as a zone.
“We’re also excited about it as a nation. And the President being the leader of the party is also excited about it. He knows his pedigree. He knows his capacity. He knows that once he believes in a cause, he goes through all out for it.
“So I think its a very big plus, politically speaking to our party, to the government of the country under the leadership of President Bala Tinubu , GCFR and also arising from that we use the opportunity to commend and thank him for signing into law the South East Development Commission, which just assented.
“If you recall, that bill has been there for the past God knows. Attempts to pass that bill three times failed. But under his watch. He finally assented to the bill, which means listening to cries and the people of Southeast, particularly the leadership and the Southeast Governors Forum, which I am the Chairman are indeed very grateful.
“We’re very happy with that. It means that the neglect we have been crying for a very long time is being addressed now by the national government. So we owe all this glory to Almighty God, and to Mr. President, for being able to do this justice to our people”, he said.
Also speaking, Governor Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, said Anyim is not a small fry and is not looking for food.
Asked how he felt that his state was turning into a one party state and if it was okay for democracy, Nwifuru said “you asked how I feel, I’m very excited, and it’s a thing of joy to me that every big fish in my state, especially that of our nation, Ayim Pius Ayim, and so many other distinguished leaders have decided to join our party, the All Progressive Congress. And is part of the benefit, the dividends of democracy. We’ve been able to do well according to our own understanding and base on our own best judgment. And that is what is engineering a lot of them to join APC.
“Like what Mr. President has done in so many areas. Somebody like Pius, he’s not a pushover. He’s not somebody that you can say because of money he is joining APC, or that he is hungry or that he’s looking for a job like he said. So it’s based on the disposition of Mr. President, as a leader of the party in our great nation, Nigeria, and the disposition of the Governor as a leader of the party in the State and our own Governor General in Southeast, the leader of the southeast governors forum, Senator Hope, and that is what’s that makes a lot of them to join APC”, the governor said.
On his part, Anyim while explaining basis for leaving the PDP for the ruling party, said given the challenges the country is facing, there’s need for all hands to be on deck.
He admitted that the country was passing through turbulent times and it was the duty of all patriots, if he or she has nothing to add to ensure that the country continues to have a peaceful atmosphere.
He said “can you look back at the history of PDP and tell me how many leaders PDP has produced that had joined APC or another party at any particular point in time, it’s common. But importantly, I have a determination to be sure that the country moves on the right path and I should be available to contribute my quota.”
Asked if he could not have contributed his quota from the opposition party, Anyim said “contributing quota does not necessarily mean to work, but to engender a conducive atmosphere for progress. I’m not looking for work, but there is need that given the challenges the country is facing today that we all need to put all the hands on deck to make the country move forward.”
Commenting on his interests in APC, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation said “certainly, the country is passing through turbulent times and it is the duty of every patriot, if you have nothing to add, ensure that you contribute to the peaceful atmosphere that will engender progress in the country.”
Deji Elumoye
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