The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odige-Oyegun has received defectors from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Odigie-Oyegun was accompanied to the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the event by the Speaker House of Representative, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the National Secretay of APC, national women leader and other national executive members of the party.
Prominent among the defectors are Senator Joshua Dariye (PDP), from Plateau Central senatorial zone, former Deputy governor in the immediate past PDP led Ignatius Longjan, former governorship candidate of ACN Pam Dung Gyang, Deputy Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly Yusuf Gagdi, Hon. Jimmy Cheto, a former minister Chief Jethro Akun.
Others are former member the of House of Representatives Aminu Jonathan.
While receiving the defectors Oyegun said: “The timing of this mass movement into the ruling party by highly placed politicians on the plateau is unique and historic to APC and to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Unique in the sense that the decampees are coming when the APC government and Mr. President needed people to give him support that will enable him succeed changing the fortunes of this country.
“Plateau people are coming into the party en mass at a time when President Muhammadu Buhari is facing a big battle with corruption and needed massive support, the president need people like you around him to defeat corruption which already fighting back.
“Mr. President will ever remain grateful to these great politicians from plateau state and their teaming followers for their decision to come in and rally round his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari considered this move as energy boost to his administration.
“He added: I use this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm in spite of the prevailing economic recession. “It is obvious that Nigerians are in tears, it is obvious that there is anguish in the land, it is obvious that Nigerians are hungry, Nigerians are angry etc, all these are due to the tough times the country is passing through, and I know that such tough times does not last, it is temporal.
“I can assured all Nigerians that by this time next year, Nigerians will be smiling, because by this time next year, there will be no more hunger in the country. The economy of the country were bastardized by the 16 years administration of PDP, President Muhammadu Buhari has been working extra-hard to fix the battered economy, Mr, president is so passionate about this.
“And that is why I’m telling you with confidence that by this same time next year, Nigerian citizens will have reasons to thank Mr. President for wiping away our tears.
“I am sure Nigerians are not hearing much from Chief Audu Ogbe, the minister for agriculture, he is working with vigor to make sure Nigerians does not lack food next year, he is working sleeplessly to bring an end to the hungers on the land. The same thing apply to Rotimi Amaechi, Fashiola and other ministers, they are working silently to end our problems, and they have a president that will not take any excuse for failure.
The Nation