Oyegun, others celebrate ex-Enugu governor, Chime as he defects to APC

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun, says the major focus of the party is to return the South-East to mainstream of national politics.

Oyegun spoke at the APC awareness rally and formal reception of former Enugu State governor, Sullivan Chime in Abodu ward, Udi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

The chairman described the entrance of Chime into APC as the height of that bid.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chime, who was governor of the state for eight years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), officially registered with the APC at the rally.

Oyegun described the former governor as a great and valuable acquisition due to his track record during the eight years of his administration in the state.

[Read Also: Ex-Gov. Chime explains decision to join APC]

He said that South-East was special to the party but regretted that the people had for long been prevented from identifying with the APC.

He said that Nigerians knew the people of the area as the most intelligent, enterprising as well as the greatest nation builders.

“The time has come for you to reap from the fruits of your labour. From the time we won the election in 2015 our greatest target has been to ensure that the South-East returns to national politics and the arrival of Chime is the climax.

“I have for a long time admired him though we were in different political parties. He is a man of vision who changed Enugu and it is something to celebrate to have him in our party,” he said.

Oyegun said that the entrance of the former governor into the party would open up a new vista for the zone, adding that the time has come for the people of the area to reap from their contributions.

“With Chime on board great things are going to start happening to your people because he is an acquisition of calibre,” he said.

Oyegun said that it was good that Chime had decided to join hands in repairing the ills the PDP inflicted on the nation over the years.

He said that every section of the country was important to actualise this task, adding “I grew up to know Nigeria to be balanced on the tripod.”

Also speaking the APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Mr Emma Enukwu, described the former governor as a progressive politician, who left indelible marks in the state.
Enukwu said that it would be very difficult for any governor to replicate what Chime achieved in the state through selfless service.

He said that it was the performance of the former governor that caught the eye of the APC and they persuaded him to join his fellow progressives.

“Chime is a progressive politician and the APC in the zone will celebrate people like him. We cannot go after people that did not introduce change in the society.

“It was during his time as governor that I knew roads could go into the hinterlands. He left a difficult precedence for anybody coming after him,” he said.

He said that the entrance of the former governor into their party was a wakeup call to other politicians in the zone, but added that the party would only accept progressives into its fold.

“Being a real political philosopher, Chime decided to leave his former party before it collapses on him. He is leaving because he wants our people to join mainstream politics,” he said.

Enukwu said that the entrance of Chime and other progressives into the party would usher in a new lease of life for the people.

“The APC is the only party that can take us as a people to the destination we clamour for.

“In the other party our people occupied strategic positions for many years, but they could not use it to the advantage of the zone. They could not attract development projects.

“But under the two years of this administration work is going on in many federal roads as well as the second Niger Bridge. So, Sullivan has made the right choice,” Enukwu said.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said that Enugu State and indeed the South-East were strategic to the APC.

Tambuwal said that the zone had for several years worked cordially with politicians from the North, adding that it would not be news to have the region work together with the rest of the country.

“APC wants to do business with the people of the South-East to ensure that the country remains united for greater future,” Tambuwal said.

The state APC Chairman, Mr Ben Nwoye, said that the presence of the crowd at the rally had shown that APC had come to stay.

“The crowd is to show you that Ndigbo is in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the change mantra,” Nwoye said.

He said that the youths were agitating for change that would move the country to greater height.

[Read Also: We go after people that would introduce Change like Chime- APC]

Chime, after his registration member number 0669001, said that he was humbled by the crowd that gathered to welcome him into the APC.

“I thank God I have finally left that wreckage that was once upon a time a great party. Go home and tell our people that what used to be our party is gone.

“There seems to be no other option as the only place to be if you want to be politically active is the APC,” Chime said.

Chime appealed to residents of the state to identify with the APC to attract good governance as that was the only functional party in the country.

He said that he did not join the party because of any position but to give the people federal presence and make sure they got what rightfully belonged to them.

NAN reports that other dignitaries that attended the event included Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Chief Emeka Wogu, and other members of the APC national working committee.