National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun has said that despite several challenges inherited by the
President Muhammadu Buhari administration from predecessor regimes, the
government has continued to implement the Change Agenda to restore the
country on the path of growth and development.
Odigie-Oyegun said this when he received in audience an APC delegation
from Niger State led by Party State Chairman, Alh. Mohammed Jibril Adamu
and Chairman of Suleja Local Government Council, Hon Abdullahi Shuaibu
Maje. The delegation comprising party state executives and other political
appointees from Niger State paid the National Chairman a solidarity visit
at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday evening.
The APC National Chairman told the delegation that the Party’s National
Working Committee (NWC) has worked assiduously to ensure the unity of the
APC that was created out of other progressive-minded parties during the
2013 merger.
While praying for the speedy and full recovery of the President,
Odigie-Oyegun stated that although the task placed on the president to
rebuild the nation was difficult, the administration is already tackling
the country’s several challenges and recording successes in different
facets.
Odigie-Oyegun: “The leadership of the Party, in this case the National
Working Committee (NWC) has tried to the best of its ability to do the
difficult process of welding together the Party that was created out of
three, four other Parties. It has not been easy as you very well know. But
we thank God that by and large, it has been a significant success.
“It is a very difficult task that we have all thrust on the President. We
had to deal with a predecessor regime whose hallmark was corruption. A
regime that had lost all vision; that had lost all interest in developing
our nation given the kind of resources that were available. A regime that
instead of developing, wasted our national resources such that as at the
time we were taking over, there really was nothing. The economy had
already collapsed. Salaries were not being paid. Public infrastructure had
collapsed. Price of oil had also collapsed.
“So, the President had a very difficult situation to handle. It is not
surprising then the kind of pain that a lot of our brothers and sisters
are going through today. One will depend on people like you to help us
pass the message to our people that this is just a passing phase, this is
an evil that was created by predecessor regimes. The President and his
team are working flat out to make sure that our economy is diversified and
our nation no longer depends on oil only. I pray that God restore the
President to complete health so that he can continue the mission.
“There is no magic to it. It is taking time, but this country will never
go back to the bad old days where all we did was divide the money from
oil. Today, I am very proud of the accomplishment of states like Kebbi,
Jigawa, Zamfara and the rest of them in agriculture. Today, Nigerian rice
is becoming what we all eat. Tomorrow by God’s grace, we will be able to
export Nigerian rice to the rest of Africa and far beyond.”
The APC National Chairman informed the delegation that the Party will hold
state congresses this year.
“The Party is going to have congresses this year. We only await the
National Organising Secretary to conclude the planning and programme for
these congresses. In two three months, those will be over.” Odigie-Oyegun
said.
Earlier, the Chairman of Suleja Local Government Council, Hon Abdullahi
Shuaibu Maje who spoke on behalf of the delegation said the people of
Niger State and indeed Suleja Community have stood firm, have faith and
voted for great Party the APC at all levels since 2015.
According to the council chairman, the delegation resolved to pass a vote
of confidence on the APC National Chairman on account of his leadership
style and for managing the affairs of the Party well.
Maje: “You led the greatest mega opposition party ever in the history of
our country and the African continent to defeat a so-called biggest ruling
party and the most corrupt in the annals of the history of Nigeria, the
PDP in the 2015 general election which brought in the current Government
of Change. We are proud of you and we are proud of our great party the APC
at all levels.
The council chairman reaffirmed the delegation’s belief in the Change
Agenda of the administration at the federal level led by President
Muhammadu Buhari and at the state level led by Niger state governor,
Alh.(Dr.) Abuybakar Sani Bello.
“We acknowledge the tremendous achievements of the federal government
under the able leadership of President Buhari in the area of fight against
corruption and embezzlement of public funds, economic recovery and
transformation, massive capital infrastructure development across the
country and security of lives and property by defeating the menace of Boko
Haram and kidnapping across the country. We pray that God Almighty gives
the President good health, quick recovery and wisdom to come back home and
continue with his good work.
“Also, the Niger State Governor has done wonderful well in both
infrastructural and human capital development of the state in the last two
years.” He said.
The council chairman said complaints arising from an inconclusive congress
held in 2014 from Suleja Local Government Area required the attention of
the National Chairman to address in order to calm nerves and help the APC
come out stronger in the leadup to the 2019 general elections.
NWC members present at the meeting were the National Publicity Secretary,
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita
Izunaso; National Treasurer, Alh. Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa and National
Youth Leader, Hon. Dasuki Ibrahim Jalo.