By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima has described the recent spate of defection from other political parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as good development for the country and a new chapter in the life of the party.
Shettima disclosed this Monday in Lokoja at the very brief but colorful ceremony to receive the former governor of Kogi state, Capt.Idris Ichalla Wada and several others who decamped from the people’s democratic Party (PDP) African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the APC..
The VP poured encomium on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the immediate past governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for entrenching good governance, eliciting widespread admiration and acceptance of the APC by people of the state.
He said, “It gladens my heart to see this day. On our way here, the people lined on the roadsides waving us shouting Ododo, Ododo, Ododo. I’m pleased that good governance is at play in Kogi state.
“This is a new chapter in the life of APC in Kogi state and entire Nigeria. I am particularly delighted to receive an elder statesman Capt Wada, we are the confluence of progressive together.
“What is happening in APC is more of a coalition of who is who in Kogi state and Nigeria. You have joined the family that brings peace and progress to people of Nigeria. And you will not regret coming into the progressive.
“I am going back to Abuja to deliver the message to Mr President, the message from the Confluence state today is that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s victory in 2027 is total”, he said.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in his remarks assured the defectors that there was no discrimination between old and new members in the APC saying, “Let me tell you sir. In the APC, there is nothing like newcomer. we are all a big and United family.
The Governor expressed gratitude to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Vice President for their support at all times saying, “Within two years of our administration, Mr President is here for the third time.
“It is our job to serve the people and impact the lives of our people”, he said, adding that his government was making impact across the 21 Local Governments and 239 wards constructing internal roads, township roads, primary health care centers among others.
Ododo assured President Tinubu of 100 per cent delivery of the state to the APC come 2027 saying, “We have no opposition come 2027 as far as Kogi state is concerned.
“In Kogi State opposition has been crushed to the ground. Anyone who was in doubt before about APC in Kogi state, today’s event has cleared that doubt, that Kogi is APC and APC is Kogi State.”
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Capt. Wada stressed that the “cross over” was hinged on so many reasons that time would not permit him to explain, saying, “It is my pleasure to finally join the folds of the progressive family.
“The naira has appreciated against the dollar, the economy generally has picked up, the President has taken the country out of a distressed economy. We have to unite with Mr President to ensure his victory in 2027… It is good to be among the progressives”, he said.
The state chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello in his remarks, assured the Vice President that, “Mr President does not need to come to Kogi state for any political campaign for his second term, “his victory is already guaranteed.” (Ends)