The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday held a thanksgiving for President Muhammadu Buhari in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Speaking at the service at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu called for unity and synergy among the party’s stakeholders.
He said the state chapter of the party decided to hold the thanksgiving and prayers to appreciate God Almighty for sustaining the president’s health.
Onu described the APC as a movement and no longer a political party, which when embraced by all, would return the country to its lost path of greatness.
As part of the thanksgiving, former Governor of the state, Martin Elechi defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Elechi was formally given his membership card, alongside his family, friends and associates.
While promising to hold an elaborate ceremony later in his home in Echialike, Ikwo Local Council area of the state, he said he joined the APC to identify with the good leadership qualities of Buhari and to denounce the current crisis rocking the PDP.
He said: “Buhari has been known to me some 49 years ago when I started the movement for the creation of Ebonyi State. Then, he was the Brigade Major of the Nigerian Army in Abakaliki and he ordered my release alongside nine others, who were being arrested for the agitation.
He described Buhari as the messiah that Nigerians have been waiting for, as the Boko Haram, corruption and other problems bedeviling the country could have gone out of hand if he was not in power today.
“I also joined the APC because the current actors in the PDP destroyed the democratic ideals of its founding fathers as the party under which platform I was elected a governor on two occasions, used to be the pride of Africa.
“The APC is the only alternative for Ebonyi people and the Ibo race and I thank the party for offering me and my supporters, a political platform to identify with, as I assure them of my unflinching commitment.”
A top leader of the party, Kasheem Imam and the party’s Deputy National Women leader, Dr. Mrs Tina Adike called on the people to identify with the APC, as the north and southeast zone had had a long history of political alliance.
The occasion was attended by APC faithful from within and outside the southaast zone.
Source: Guardian
