The Governor of Anambra State and national leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Charles Soludo, has disclosed that the party is open to an alliance.
The Governor stated that the party is disposed to going into an alliance with any of the political parties that truly professes progressive ideology.
Soludo made the disclosure while speaking at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of APGA in Abuja on Friday. This even as he described APGA as the foremost progressive movement in Nigeria.
According to him, having received the validation from the courts, the party is poised to reach for greater heights.
The Governor, therefore, called on other progressive- minded political parties in the country to join hands with APGA to move the country forward.
Soludo said: “APGA remains ready to extend a hand of fellowship to any party that professes true progressive ideology in order to join hands to rebuild Nigeria.
“For me, more than anything, it’s for us to say to the world that APGA is alive. APGA is strong, APGA is rising. That’s why we have come together to send that message today. APGA is alive, APGA is strong, APGA is rising.
“As the first political party in Nigeria registered as a progressive, the All Progressive Grand Alliance registered in 2002. Every other party that has progressive also in their name, they all came much. Much, much, much later. We are the foremost.
“We believe in Nigeria, fairness, equity. And we believe in true federalism. We believe in leaving no one behind. True progressivism. And that movement remains alive. That movement is strong.
“That movement will grow stronger. And we are poised more than ever now. Now that the Court has finally cleared all this noise and rumble here and there, we can now also run together”.
The former CBN Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of a member of his party, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, into the federal cabinet as a Minister of State Foreign Affairs.
The Governor said, “President Tinubu is living out a true government of national unity in the country.” He added that the commonness in the name of his party All Progressive Grand Alliance and the All Progressives Congress is not a mere coincidence.
According to Soludo, APGA was poised to unite with other progressive parties to work for a progressive country.
This is even as he noted that APGA in years to come would continue to grow from strength to strength.
“In years to come, we will continue to grow from strength to strength. APGA is built to last, the Governor said.
Appraising his administration’s performance in Anambra State, the Governor gave his government a pass mark.
He said the APGA -government is very intentional in all its drive for good governance.
According to him, his administration wanted to use Anambra state as an example of what the ideology of progressivism is all about. And to how it relates with good governance.
The Governor also commented on the prolonged leadership crisis in the party. He, therefore, praised the recent Supreme Court Judgement that has rested the crisis.
Soludo hailed the judges for upholding justice and the prestige of the judiciary.
The Governor also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring steady improvement in our electoral process.
The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa, while welcoming party leaders to the NEC meeting said APGA is transforming into a new party. He noted that the party agenda is to infuse discipline and youth inclusiveness.
The National Chairman formally announced that the party has granted amnesty to genuine members who worked on the wrong side when the party was enmeshed in crisis.
He, however, noted that the amnesty did not cover non-card-carrying individuals who paraded as members of the party during the crisis period.
Ezeokenwa pointed out that the party has commenced setting up of skill acquisition centres through the newly inaugurated APGA Foundation. This he said, is apart from the digitalization of membership register.
In his remarks while breaking cola nuts, the immediate past Chairman of APGA, Victor Oye enjoined members of APGA to remain loyal.
He encouraged especially those elected on the platform of the party to jettison the idea of decamping to other parties.
Among leaders of the party that graced the event were Wife of the pioneer National Leader of APGA, and current Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu. The former Minority leader in the National Assembly and Senator representing Abia North, Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe and Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Onyekachukwu Ibezi.
source: The Nation
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