Ifeanyi Ubah’s defection: APC has gotten solution to the disunity in the South-East – Ganduje

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Umar Ganduje has described Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who decamped from the Young Progressives Party, YPP, to the ruling Party, as a big fish who will unite the people of the South-East.

Ganduje made the comment on Thursday at the party headquarters Abuja, when delegation from the National Assembly, led by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, came to present Ubah to him.

APC, according to the National Chairman is graudally gaining ground in the South-East geopolitical zone and will soon take over from the other parties in charge of the three other states in the zone.

In his words, “Let us see what is happening in the Southeastern part of this country. You have five states, three states are controlled by different political parties, we have Labour Party, PDP, APGA and the remaining two controlled by APC. Now a region, a geopolitical zone with five states but having four political parties controlling that geopolitical zone, i usually say let us discuss this.
Is it a sign of unity? Is it a sign of wisdom, is it a sign of collective decision in other to participate in national politics? No.

“Now, we have started seeing the answer. Liberation. During the civil war, it was, this state has fallen. This big town has fallen. In our politics of today, it is liberation. Already we have two states from the Southeastern part of the country and with this nucleus, with this timber and calibre, with this jaganut, i think we have found the answer”.

He also said the presence of Ubah will assist the ruling party profer solution to the issue of marginalisation in the South-East region.

“It is very very disturbing, and marginalisation is a common concept in our political dictionary. We as student of political party, when we hear people are being marginalized, we develop interests because they are making a point. I discuss with many senior politicians from the southeastern part of this country and in all cases, the issue is marginalisation.

“Let us discuss marginalisation of the South-East in Nigeria. That is an issue to me”, he said.

Dr Ganduje who expressed joy in the defection of Senator Ubah to the party, noted one of the primary objectives of the party was to increase its membership.

“Since i assume office, this is the biggest fish. There is no doubt, this is a big success.

“When we came in, we decided to introduce some reforms into the party. The first is to make this party active throughout the year, not just during election period.

“The second is to widen and deepen advocacy. Our primary objective as a political party as an institution is to recruit membership into the party both elective, appointment and fellowship of the party. So we decided to swing into action” , he said.

On his part, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah assured the leadership of the ruling party that he will work assiduously for the progress of the party in the South-East.

He said the Igbos have benefitted and still benefiting from the leadership and policies of President Tinubu’s administration. He however urged them to support the President for the good of the nation.

“I want to take the message to my people because we have a new sheriff in the building in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want to be sincere because i know that i am talking before Nigerians and the media is here.

“I’m from the Igbo nation. It has always been difficult for the Igbo people to key into the national party because of our sentiment and emotion. But since our president has emerged, and i put that challenge to each and every Igbo man today in Nigeria, If we have had 80 percent of wealthy Igbo today, i am sure 70 – 80 percent of them derive their wealth from a legacy our president has kept in Lagos Nigeria.

“Our president is a politician that understands how it pains and how to console everybody that is in need. He has that capacity.

“One of the most important thing for me to tell my people is the appointment of Engr. Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works for the very first time irrespective of our low turn of vote to him.
The former president said, he cannot reward who did not vote for him but our president is rewarding even those who did not vote for him. For that it will be very difficult for any man with conscience not to look at the direction of the centre party. And for that, i, my family and my constituency, i consulted widely , i dont think you will come tomorrow and see anyone within my family, my political family which is far more important in this business or in this movement that will come against my coming into All Progressives Congress.

“My president, just take it from me. I am going to deliver. The most important thing in every politics, is for you to have connection with your grassroot, your people and to know the needs of your people”.