ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has appointed the Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, as the party’s national leader.
He was unanimously appointed by members of the party’s NEC, as APGA’s national leader during its meeting held at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Anambra State capital.
His appointment was contained in a press statement released on Friday, titled, ‘Soludo takes charge, appointed national leader of APGA by the National Executive Committee of the Party’.
According to the statement, a certificate of appointment was presented to Soludo by the national chairman of the Party, Victor Oye, in the presence of all the NEC members after his appointment.
Receiving the certificate, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said he felt the weight of his forebears with the appointment.
The Governor added that he was honoured to be the third leader of the party, after the late Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, and his (Soludo’s) predecessor, Willie Obiano, as the first and the second respectively.
He said: “This has humbled me! I’m feeling the weight of history right now. The APGA is a coalition of all progressives. I feel the weight of our forebearers and those who have sacrificed their lives to ensure the survival of this great party.
“There was a grand progressive alliance in the first and second republics that included the UPN, RPP, NPP, and others.
“All of the progressives are dispersed throughout this republic. APGA is a 21-year-old political party that was the first to be registered with the word ‘progressives’ in its name.
“All progressives call APGA home. It’s a history with two leaders, and I’m honored to be the third.
“I must pay tribute to my predecessors, Late Sir Chukwuemeka Ojukwu of blessed memory, the first National Leader of APGA; Chief Willie Obiano, my immediate predecessor as the APGA’s second leader, and here I am.”
Soludo pledged to work towards ensuring that “all progressives in Nigeria” know APGA, claiming that it was the third largest political party in the country, as their home.
“I pledge to work every day with all of you, our thronging members, so that all progressives in Nigeria will know that APGA is their home.
“APGA is the third largest political party in Nigeria and will grow from strength to strength. When the country is ready, APGA will be there to provide the true progressivism that Nigeria craves,” he said.
He added: “APGA has the potential to make Nigeria the world’s largest black nation. APGA has the potential to expand its domain in Nigeria. We have representation in the Governorship, House of Representatives, and National House of Assembly.
“We have a responsibility to work very hard to maintain and expand our pace.
“This great party has my personal commitment. I came to this platform after many thoughtful years, and I read the party’s constitution and manifesto. It is the first political party to pledge support for true federalism.
“APGA is still the road map to a better Nigeria. I will uphold this party’s principles and ethics,” Soludo further stated.
The Anambra State governor added that APGA’s policies were centred on the people, stating that the party did not discriminate in its appointments, and boasting that: “We increased employees pay by 10%. This is a pro-people government because that is who we are. We leave no one behind, which is why we are progressives who care about people.
“We are working on power to provide 24 hours power. We’re getting started. People will have access to high-speed Wi-Fi and Internet, thanks to the installation of 2000 kilometres of fibre optic cables.”
The new party national leader also boasted that, “APGA will win in the coming months”, adding that, “and then the real work will begin. We will run for every office in the country and, by God’s grace, we will win.”
The Governor commended the party’s “outstanding leadership”, which, according to him, had “demonstrated will benefit future generations of APGA supporters. We must work hard to preserve our party’s name and greatness.”