BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
The All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State has described Governor David Umahi’s defection into the party, one year ago, as a game changer that redefines the nation’s political configuration.
The publicity secretary of APC in the state, Simbad Ogbuatu, in an interview with The Point in Abakaliki, said the opposition political parties were attracted to the ruling party because they wanted to be part of history.
Ogbuatu said, “It is already one year of Governor Umahi’s defection to the APC and one year of the inauguration of the Ebonyi State APC caretaker committee.
Imagine the extent the party has gone to carve a political niche for itself in Ebonyi State. Looking back at the events of the one year, one can only affirm that indeed, Umahi is the answer.
“It is worthy of mention that the historic defection of our governor to the ruling APC changed the Nigerian political map and configuration even as the inauguration of a caretaker committee leadership of the party in the state became a leverage to the resuscitation of the APC in the state.
“It is based on the foregoing that our dear governor has the responsibility of repositioning of the APC in Ebonyi State as party leader. He did not relent nor rest on his oars to endear the APC to Ebonyians and the people of the South-East zone.
“Governor Umahi demonstrated his prowess as a consummate political manager of men and resources. The Minister of Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnia Onu, was overwhelmed by the progress which Ebonyi State had made under Governor Umahi as APC party leader. The former governor of old Abia State knows that the APC in Ebonyi State was gasping for breath of existence before Governor Umahi joined the party and provided it with the needed oxygen of survival.
“The former caretaker committee of the APC in Ebonyi State, led by Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha under the guidance of the state party leader, Governor Umahi, embarked on peace missions, reconciling the hitherto aggrieved members of the party and successfully uniting the party thereby burying the ugly monster of factionalism which plagued the party in Ebonyi State before Governor Umahi’s defection. This is deserving of a heavy ovation and accolades.
“As things stand today and as the national convention of the APC approaches, the party has proven itself in Ebonyi State as the party to beat in any election thereby reducing the PDP which used to be in-charge in the state, not only to a political Lilliput, but to a mere footnote of our political history.
“It is important at this juncture to reiterate the clarion call on the remnants of the opposition in the state to make hay while sun shines by joining the ruling APC.”
