Former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida described the coming of APC as a welcome development, which will make politics more robust and give the people another option.
There was a huge rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to welcome the party. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lowered the party’s flag in Lagos and in Benin, the Edo State capital.
The Presidency seemed jolted by the arrival of the APC. Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe said Dr. Jonathan was not moved.
The APC interim National Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, gave an insight into what the party would do if elected into office. It will fight corruption, he said.
Tumsah, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt, said: “The APC has the human resource to turn Nigeria’s economy around through provision of regular power supply, creation of jobs, promotion of investment and industrialisation.’’
According to him, APC is going to put the country back on track for effective utilisation of resources.
Tumsah, who decried insecurity and level of poverty in the country, said the party was determined to put smiles on the faces of the downtrodden.
He urged Nigerians to support the APC’s programmes for a united and prosperous country.
He said there was no other country Nigerians could call their own, hence the need for collective responsibility to transform it.
Tumsah praised INEC for living up to its responsibilities by registering APC, and promised that the party would abide by the Electoral Act.
The new party plans to embark on a massive membership drive and enlightenment, Alhaji Umar Duhu, the National Vice Chairman, North East, has said.
Duhu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the party, “which is the much awaited platform and alternative for selfless service, wants its presence to be felt at all levels”.
“You know, Nigerians were so enthusiastic about APC being registered; so we have to match our words with actions by reaching out to them.
“We want to establish structures across the country beyond ward level. We want to be the first party to have structures at unit level,” Duhu said.
Duhu, a former State Chairman of the defunct ANPP in Adamawa, said that ANPP recently received about 300,000 new members, “who are now automatic members of APC”.
He said the party was confident of its chances in the 2015 general elections.
Duhu said that the party was in talks with some governors, who are interested in becoming members of the APC.
“As at today, many governors are in talks with us. From the number I have now, we have at least 23 governors coming to APC.
“I am assuring the party members, particularly those that are just coming in, of equal opportunities,” Duhu said.
Former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida said the registration of APC has opened up the political landscape for vibrant politicking.
He spoke after hosting five chieftains of the party, led by its national deputy chairman and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari. National Deputy Secretary and former Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Bauchi Senator Nasir Nasif were also in the team. They met with Gen. Babangida at his home in Minna.
Gen. Babangida said: “With this development, we will now see more vibrant activities of political parties in the country. Every political party will now have to work harder to sell their candidates to the people.”
He said the coming of APC will widen the opportunity to select the best candidates in elections.
“I have always been a strong believer of a two-party system. We will now have two strong political parties in Nigeria. It is a welcome development.”
There was a rally by members of APC in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The Freedom Park at the Old Garage, venue of the rally, was filled up.
The rally was addressed by Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, leader of the defunct AC N Mr. Adebiyi Adelowo, Attorney General Wale Afolabi, former Secretary to the Osun State Government Sola Akinwumi.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori rallied support for the new party which she said would make a big difference in the nation’s political space.
Adelowo said that the 14 years rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought no glory to the nation but shame and destruction.
He said: “The birth of the APC will be the rise and fall of many. Those who have been destroying our democracy will fall from their high places of evil, while those who stand for truth, justice and democracy will rise for the change from evil to good, from unemployment to job creation, from corruption and systemic collapse to accountability, security and stability.
“This new-born child, the APC, will restore the glory of the Nigerian nation and our integrity in the comity of nations will again be acclaimed. The dream we had for ourselves at independence to fashion a great country, as well as the hope Africa had reposed on us to provide leadership will also be restored.”
Adelowo, who noted that the registration of the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a triumph of good over evil, said the APC is the platform of unity to fight and end the atrocities of the PDP against the poor and the helpless.”
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said the APC has the capacity to re-invent Nigeria.
He also said the registration of the party is a challenge to the progressives , who have now got a major tool to use in championing the course that they had regularly advocated for as individuals and as a group.
Shettima, who made his position known through his Special Adviser on Communications, Alhaji Isa Gusau, said APC cannot afford to let Nigerians down.
The statement said: “I am very optimistic that our party has very patriotic, credible and competent Nigerians who are selflessly ready to work for the quick re-invention of Nigeria for all Nigerians.
“We have highly respectable people and this is why Nigerians have very high expectations from the APC we must then get to work immediately as a family, to think out of the box, to bring something new and concrete that is capable of making the difference.
“Nigerians have so much demands but the demands are just about basic things that are well achievable, we do not need rocket science to provide things as basic as portable water, sound education, quality healthcare, jobs, security, roads, electricity and other very basic essentials of human existence that are no longer in the demand lists of other countries with less our human and material resources.
“I also importantly join in thanking the media for very fair but deserved publicity accorded to the APC and for regularly monitoring every step of the way, leading to the party’s registration as lawfully desired by the party’s actors and promoters.
“I pray that peace returns to every part of Nigeria in no distant time and I do solemnly pray that Nigeria recovers and grows steadily to become the real giant that we so wish for us, the African continent and indeed the world”.
Yobe state Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu praised the commitment of the media to the cause of the APC registration.
Aliyu, who spoke in Damaturu, said: “I think all the media did well to highlight the merger process.
“I want to say that the kind of leadership provided during this merger is the one that Nigeria needs. The leaders of all the political parties were selfless. Everyone was ready to make unconditional sacrifices and that is why the merger has come to fruition with the registration of this great party,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said the future requires more sacrifice as he lowered the AC N flag and hoisted the APC flag in its stead at the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos.
The governor said: “With the APC, the Goliath now has a stone to contend with. We will provide opportunities for change and choice.”
The new party held its first meeting, presided over by Chief Oladele Ajomale, chairman of the defunct ACN, in Lagos.
At the meeting, which took off shortly after the hoisting of the APC flag, were party elders, the ACN chairmen from the 57 local councils and 20 local government chairmen.
Among the beaming party chieftains and supporters at the impressive ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, a former deputy governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to the Government Mr. Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Chief Abiodun Adeseye and the ACN secretary, Primate Charles Odugbesi. They hugged one another, exchanged banters and proposed a toast to the health of the new party.
In Benin, the flag of the defunct AC N was lowered at the party secretariat in Edo State, amid celebration.
State Chairman of defunct ACN Thomas Okosun said APC’s dream of taking over the leadership of the country was gradually becoming a reality.
“As chairman of the defunct ACN, it is a dawn of true democracy that is about to take place in this country because we are about to rescue Nigeria from the hands of those who have mismanaged our collective resources.
“The leadership doesn’t have the solution. We have a party determined to rescue this country from self inflicting damage.”
Notable politicians and elder statesmen from the North described the registration of the party as a healthy political development that would promote the country’s nascent democracy and give room for healthy competition in politics.
In a message he sent via e-mail from Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to all the leaders and the parties that courageously merged to form the new All Progressive Congress (APC).
“I must also congratulate INEC for their sense of justice and patriotism, who despite pressure from many powerful corners summoned the courage to do the right thing. I do hope that they, INEC, will be similarly sincere in conduction of all future elections, as these are even more crucial to our survival as a country.
“For the APC leaders and supporters, I must say the hard work begins now. Sacrifices have to be made, both personal and sectional, if we are to achieve the victories that are glaringly promised to us by the Nigerian electorate. Internal democracy and good, competent and acceptable candidates are the recipe for the successes we all hope for. But a sure way to failure is to do the opposite of these. Nigerians now do have a genuine choice. I hope they will choose wisely.”
Second Republic presidential adviser Tanko Yakassai said: “Getting an opposition party that would attract the support from all parts of Nigeria is a positive development for our nascent democracy, as that will go a long way in promoting National Unity and Integration. Besides, it would discourage the formation of political parties on ethnical, tribal, sectional or religious basis, which should also be good to our Nation.”
Second Republic Deputy Senate President Alhaji Abubakar Dan-Musa said: “INEC has done the right thing; it is now left for the managers to also do what is right. The ball is now in their own court as the destiny of this party is in their hands.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Welcome APC, PDP is now in soup.
ReplyDeleteam not celebrating is a muslim party
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