The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Monday urged those defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to see the party as one family where members are allowed to grow.
Shettima spoke on Monday in Lokoja, Kogi State, while welcoming defectors into the party.
The Vice President stated that the APC is a party of patriots who are deliberate in their intention to bring back the country on track of growth and development, urging new members to key in
He charged the new party members to quickly internalise the principle behind the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he said is all about redirecting the nation’s economy to become buoyant again and restore infrastructural facilities across the country.
Shettima expressed joy that all reforms initiated by the Federal Government under President Tinubu are already yielding the desired results.
He then called on the defectors to immediately settle down and take their pride of place in APC.
The Vice President said : “It gladens my heart to see this day. I am pleased that good governance is at play in Kogi state.
“This is a new chapter in the life of APC in Kogi state and entire Nigeria.
‘I am particularly delighted to receive an elder statesman Capt Wada, we are the confluence of progressive together.
“What is happening in APC is more of a coalition of who is who in Kogi state and Nigeria.
“You have joined the family that bring peace and progress to people of Nigeria.
“And you will not regret coming into the progressive.
“I am going back to Abuja to deliver the message to Mr President, the message from the Confluence state today is that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu victory in 2027 is total.
“I want to appreciate people of Kogi state for speaking with one one voice.”
In his acceptance remarks on behalf of all the defectors, Capt Wada said it was a pleasure to finally join the folds of the progressive family.
“There are so many reasons why I joined APC, one, the party is a progressive one, secondly, Tinubu himself has a very good vision for the country.
“Mr President did right by removing oil subsidy, since then we see drop in price of food stuff daily.
“The naira has been appreciating against the dollars, the economy generally has picked up, the president has taken the country out of distressed economy.
“The dividend of democracy by Mr President are numerous, but with these few reasons, we are taking the bold step to cross over to APC today.
“We have to unite with Mr President to ensure his victory in 2027,” Wada said.
In his welcome remarks, the state Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, assured VP Shettima that President Tinubu does not need to come to Kogi state for any political campaign for his second term as “his victory is already guaranteed”.
At the event, former Governor Idris Ichalla Wada led other defectors, including a firmer Speaker of the state house of assembly, Hon. Alfa Ahmed Imam, three serving state lawmakers from PDP and ADC, the 2023 deputy governorship candidate of SDP, Ranti Abenemi and hundreds of other members of PDP, ADC and SDP into APC.
The state governor, Ahmed Ododo who formally introduced the new APC members to the Vice President, said they were good grassroots leaders who will contribute positively to the growth of the party.
Governor Ododo said the formal defection of the new party members had shown that Kogi state belongs to the APC.
He also acknowledged the love of President Tinubu for the development of Kogi state through the various Federal Government projects being executed in the state.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is my father and I am proud to be his son.
“He is a true leader who has consistently shown me how to be a good leader.
“He is a committed Democrat and Iam sure, Nigeria will be great again under his leadership,” Ododo said.
Party dignitaries present at the event include the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Senator Steve Karimi, Speaker and members of the state house of assembly among others.
The rally was attended by large number of party members and supporters from the across the 21 local government areas of the state. (vitalnewsngr.com)
