National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said on Thursday that the party remain the best option for actualizing a south-east Presidency in the nearest future.
Oyegun spoke while inaugurating a fifteen-member campaign committee for the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state challenged the committee to work to bring the South East into the mainstream of Nigerian politics and into the progressive family.
He also challenged the committee led by Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar to mobilize the entire citizens of Anambra state for victory as the state was very important to the APC, pointing out that a victory for the party in Anambra will help address the cries of marginalization from the south-east ego political zone.
He said: “we must change the narrative in the south-east and we must start with Anambra because the APC represents the most viable root for any south-east person to the presidency of this country.”
Oyegun said that the party recognized the fact that the election will not be a bed of roses in view of the fact that there is an incumbent governor in the state, adding that “if the APC can defeat an incumbent President, we can also defeat an incumbent governor, we have done it before in Kogi and Ondo state.”
Oyegun welcomed former Deputy National Chairman to the Modu Sherrif led-faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party, saying his presence in the committee showed that he has a lot to contribute to the development of the party.
Chairman of the committee and Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar said even though the task given to them was daunting, the members recognized the fact that it was necessary to win the Anambra governorship election and bring the zone into mainstream national politics.
He said there was the need for the party and its members to work for the success of the party in the election, pointing out that it was necessary to avoid a repeat of the defeat the party suffered during the Senatorial election in Osun state.
He said the party should capitalize on the age of the candidate to campaign for a generational shift, adding that his victory will give the youths a say and assured that the campaign committee will work to bring the state into the fold of the APC.
The leader of the party in the state and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige assured that all the people of the state will work with the committee to ensure victory for the party in the election.
Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir ElRufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ministers of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
THE NATION
