By Jude Opara
Ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections, the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ben Nwoye has charged members and stakeholders of the ruling party to be always be vigilant not to allow the opposition to distract President Bola Tinubu from doing his job.
Nwoye spoke on Tuesday when members of the G37 and other party stakeholders who paid him a courtesy call in his office at the National Secretariait of the party in Abuja.
He admonished the party faithful to always support the government, adding that while it’s true that not everyone who supported the party in 2023 has been rewarded, he reminded them that there are already many benefits that are being enjoyed by all Nigerians when my they travel on the numerous roads already constructed by the Tinubu administration.
“As the opposition continues to regroup, it is our responsibility not to allow them distract our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We must mobilise our members, reconnect with them and reignite their energy. We must help them understand that we have no better option than to re-elect a man who has a clear vision for reforming Nigeria.
“Even if we have not all benefited directly through appointments, we are all enjoying the roads being built.
“I recently drove from Enugu through Awka, Onitsha, Asaba, Agbor and Warri. Those roads were smooth. I also travelled through the East-West Road, Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe and back to Enugu without making any detour. Those are tangible benefits delivered under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The progress we have made belongs to all of us, and we must take ownership of it because the progressives are now leading Nigeria forward”.
The Deputy National Chairman reminded the delegation of how they all came together from different political parties to form the coalition that formed the APC.
“We came from different political traditions. We had major blocs such as ACN, CPC and ANPP, alongside others. Though those parties no longer exist on INEC’s register, they still exist in the hearts of those who know where they came from. There is nothing wrong with remembering our roots. It is not division; it is understanding our foundation”.
Earlier in his remarks, leader of the group, Comrade Cletus Obum said he has the confidence that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will strengthen the party structures ahead of the next election.
Obum further boasted that the APC will finally bury the opposition in the 2027 elections, notwithstanding the fact that democracy needs the opposition to thrive.
“As I said on national television this morning, we are going to witness the final political burial of the opposition, although we still need an opposition to maintain the semblance of democracy”.
He equally gave a brief history of how the parties that merged to firm the APC came together.
“The history of the merger did not start with the CPC and the new PDP. It began as far back as 2004. By September 2006, the merger process had produced the Action Congress (AC), taking the “A” from Advanced and the “C” from Congress. Later that year, on December 22 at the Blue Roof in Ikeja, the “N” was added, giving birth to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ahead of the 2007 general election.
“At that time, Atiku Abubakar, then Vice President, joined forces with the opposition. He went to court 14 times with the support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the leader of the opposition”.
However, Obum urged the party to remember them who are bulk of the foot soldiers that usually work in the remote villages to market the party to the people.
“We remind you to remember us whenever appointments are being considered and whenever party committees are constituted, especially as preparations begin for future elections.
“Traditionally, our members have always been deployed to states where elections are held, including off-cycle governorship elections. We believe that tradition should continue.
“We are neither asking for special recognition nor undue patronage. However, it is unfortunate that among the 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, very few are legacy members of the party.
A stream must never forget its source.
“When pioneers are neglected, loyalty is weakened and younger politicians begin to believe that politics is merely transactional”.
He equally extolled Tinubu for working to support many other people into office, before seeking to become the president in 2023.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu taught us a different lesson. After leaving office as Governor of Lagos State in 2007, he never demanded any position for himself. Instead, he supported others. He backed Atiku Abubakar in 2007 and later encouraged Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition without insisting on becoming Vice President. Even after 2019, he did not demand ministerial appointments but continued promoting those who had worked with him.
“We believe that same spirit should continue. Those who built this party should not be left standing outside the corridors of power”.
The G37 is a group of party stakeholders from all the states of the federation and Abuja who were foundation members of the APC.
