President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged the Igbo to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s general elections so as to “navigate your way into the centre of national politics.”
He spoke at the mega rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to generate southeast support for the APC.
Leaders of the party across states in the region attended the rally organised by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Represented by Secrertary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Buhari said: “What happens in 2019 will go a long way to determining the fate of the Igbo nation as it concerns the 2023 Presidency. So, it is important that they put away party sentiments in the overall interest of the Igbo nation and ensure that the APC gets a landslide victory in the Southeast”.
The President emphasized that Nigeria needed focused leadership to overcome the plethora of problems created by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration. “Many people are running around to be the President of Nigeria but Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. What Nigeria needs now is a detribalised, honest, transparent and determined leadership and that is what President Buhari represents”.
APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole led the dignitaries including Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sherriff and former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Silva.
South East APC leaders in attendance include Senators Uche Ekwunife and Andy Uba, APC National Auditor George Moghalu, APC National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibediro, former governorship candidate Tony Nwoye, among others.
Okorocha said what President Buhari is doing in the Southeast had endeared his administration to the people.
He said: “What we are celebrating here is the leadership of President Buhari. It is true that the Igbo made a mistake in 2015 but the Igbo believe in Buhari for 2019 and the Igbo are ardent followers”.
The Imo governor also dismissed insinuations that the APC is fragmented in the Southeast, stating that, “nobody should use the current misunderstanding in the party to judge the performance of the party in the Southeast. There are similar misunderstandings in other zones as well”.
The Southeast leaders noted that the region had benefited immensely from President Buhari’s administration in the last three years, more than what they got for the 16 years of PDP administration.
They added that supporting President Buhari’s second bid would brighten the chances of the zone to produce the President in 2023.
They took turns to highlight some of the landmark achievements of the Buhari administration in the Southeast, with special emphasis on the ongoing constructionof the Second Niger Bridge and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
Governor Ganduje acknowledged that the Southeast truly support the President’s reelection.
He said “with what I have seen today, it is clear that the Igbo have made a u-turn in politics and they are now in the centre of politics in Nigeria. I am impressed with the massive support for the APC and Mr. President”.
Mordu Sherriff said with the huge crowd, “I have seen with my eyes and confirmed that the Igbo are for Buhari”.
Comrade Oshiomole said: “I am left with no doubt that the APC has taken over the Southeast and our opponents will not sleep today in Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia over what is happening here today.
“I want to salute the determination of the Imo State governor. Today, he has shown who truly owns the land. I am truly impressed and I will tell the President that what I saw today is not a social media stunt but physical demonstration of support for the APC”.