National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that
the diversification efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration will be evident in a few years as the country will be
counted as one of the industrial power houses in Africa.
He said the present administration is building a new economic model which
will be sustainable, production-based and will diversify from oil to
agriculture, solid minerals and other viable sectors.
Odigie-Oyegun said this at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on
Thursday evening when he received political leaders from Delta Central
Senatorial district who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
to the APC. The decampees were led by Chief Johnson Boro, former
Commissioner in the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission
(DESOPADEC).
Other decampees are: Immediate-past PDP Chairman, Ughelli South LGA, Chief
Francis Aguonigho; Chief Sleek Oshare; Chief (Engr.) Isaiah Kekeje; Chief
Mathew Kwode; Chief Robert Ojo; Comrade Sunny Ogbududu; Mr, David Edonor;
Comrade Saturday Nukueye and Chief Charles Otaiye.
“Economically, things are difficult, there is no question about it. But
inspite of that people of your quality sat down and still want to join the
boat, because you have seen the future and you know the future belong to a
changed country. A country that produces, not only consumes.” The APC
National Chairman told the new APC entrants.
He continued: “In the last sixteen years of previous administrations, we
just consumed. Thank God this nation brought President Buhari at the
point it was about to collapse and all we are doing today is putting the
pieces back together again. It is a difficult experience and as a result
of that our people are going through some hardship. But there is no
question at all, that you can see the silver lining that is on the way.
“By the end of this year, we will be net exporters of rice, today we have
started to export formally yam. Today we are about certain that all the
grains in this country can be produce locally. These are all part of the
building blocks towards the Nigeria that we foresee in another year or
two. So, tremendous is progress is being made to reverse the road at which
we were travelling, to build a new economy, an economy based on what we
can produce. An economy based on agriculture, based on our solid
minerals.”
The APC National Chairman stated that with the globally decrease in the
demand for oil, Nigeria’s economic mainstay, the need to diversify the
Nigerian economy has become increasingly imperative.
“It is clear today that oil is gone. Britain has declared that in 40 years
vehicles that consume fossil fuel will be phased out. The United States of
America and other countries of Europe have made similar declarations. So
it is fortunate that President Buhari is today in office taking us
painfully through the process of change such that this nation will be
counted in another few years as one of the industrial power houses of the
African continent.” Odigie-Oyegun said.
‘South-South is perhaps the strongest pillar for unity’
While welcoming the new entrants to the APC, Odigie-Oyegun said one of the
resolutions of the Party’s National Leadership was to bring the
South-South back into the mainstream of Nigerian politics. The APC
National Chairman described the zone as one of the “strongest pillar for
unity” in the country.
“I cannot resist but speak like somebody from the South-South on this very
special occasion even though I belong to the nation as APC National
Chairman. The point about us is that we are not tribal. The South-South is
perhaps the strongest pillar for unity in this nation. The reality about
the South-South is because we believe in the unity and oneness of this
nation so strongly, we are ready to work with anybody who stands for one
nation and one Nigeria.
“Today, two years now we have a new regime of change. Unfortunately to a
large extent, we missed the boat. We have only one state in the entire
South-South, Edo State. It is our resolve here at national headquarters to
bring the South-South back into the mainstream of Nigerian politics.
Because at the greatest point of danger for this country, it was the
South-Southerners that stood firm at risk to themselves, at risk to their
lives that this nation must remain one.” The APC national Chairman said.
He said with the new entrants from Delta Central another solid block has
been added to the APC’s aspiration to bring Delta State and indeed the
South-South into the Progressives fold.
“I know how crucial central is in Delta state and with your entry into the
Party, we have firmed up the central and can project from there to take
Delta State and eventually take the entire South-South. Today we are
adding one more solid block towards the unity, development and great of
this country.
“I am aware there are scores of you, but because the ceremony is taking
place at the National Secretariat, we had to limit the number of persons
who could come, I know that at the appropriate time we will have a great
big unity rally in Delta state where all those who have joined us in the
recent past will be formally received and where we will also formally
launch the movement for the recovery of Delta state.” The APC National
Chairman said.
Speaking earlier, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-South), Prince
Hilliard Eta said the defection of the PDP leaders from Delta Central to
the APC was testimony of the paradigm shift being witnessed in the
South-South.
Eta: “As you are aware, the other Party hitherto was in domination of our
zone but because of the good work of this government, because of the
leadership of this Party, there has been a paradigm shift. Our people are
moving from the other party to the progressive family to actualise the
development of the South-South, the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria. It is
in that line that we have distinguished sons of Delta State who have come
to add value to our Party in Delta state, in the South-South region and in
Nigeria.”
Chief Johnson Boro who led the decampees thanked the APC leadership,
particularly the National Chairman for the reception. “We are extremely
delighted with the reception you have accorded us today. We now believe
that we are coming to a home where we will be accepted.“ He said.
Other APC National Working Committee (NWC) members at the meeting
included: National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni; Deputy National Chairman
(North), Sen. Lawal Shuaibu; Deputy National Chairman (South), Engr, Segun
Oni and Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Tombari Giadom.