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A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hycienth Ngwu, says mass defection and mass return to the APC epitomises homecoming for all progressive politicians and technocrats in the country.
Ngwu, who is the former South-East Publicity Secretary of the APC, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday while reacting on why at 26 years of uninterrupted democracy that most Nigerian politicians are joining the progressives’ party – APC.
According to him, historically, most Nigerian politicians are progressives
by nature.
“in 1993, they (progressives) were all in Social Democratic Party (SDP). However, in 1999, for various reasons, particularly due to a lack of purposeful leadership at the centre following the demise of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the progressive politicians were not well-coordinated.
“So, they found themselves in different political parties, allowing the Republicans to win in the centre and dominate the field.
“In 2015, a strong platform – the APC – was established to house progressive politicians, and in 2023, one of the modern greatest progressive politicians, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerged as President under the platform, APC.
“So, all progressive politicians and technocrats are returning home. It is a homecoming for all progressive politicians. That is the magnetic force. There is no place like home,” he said.
The APC Chieftain noted that the recent complaint by opposition parties that Nigeria is turning to ‘One Party State’ is nothing but a misleading statement.
He said that there are about 18 registered political parties in Nigeria, adding that only two out of these political parties are losing massive membership to APC.
He said, “So, how can that be seen as an effort to make Nigeria a one-party nation?
“If there is any party that will be rightly accused of trying to make Nigeria, one-party nation, it is the party or parties meeting with the intention of collapsing registered political parties into one party in the name of “coalition’.”
Ngwu also urged Nigerians to ensure accountability from their state and local government leadership, adding that there had been huge monthly Federal allocations received under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Some of them give priority to Federal projects in their States and then ask for a refund.
“Unfortunately, Nigerians are not asking their local and state governments relevant questions about their actions and inactions in the areas of governance.
“Every government has a responsibility to its people. Today, when a feeder road in a village is unmotorable, the villagers will be asking the President to come and rebuild the road,” he said.
Ngwu said that Tinubu’s administration must be commended for tackling insecurity headlong, adding that “security is for everyone and each Nigerian have a role to play in observing and reporting criminals, suspicious objects and developments.”
“When you see something, say something. The President through his policies and the empowerment of the security agencies, is living up to his responsibility.
“We need the locals, the vigilantes, the town union leaders, and civil societies to also live up to their responsibilities.
“We should see security as our responsibility. That is one of the strategies that will help curb or minimize insecurity in our localities,” he said.
