Chief Austine Edeeze, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi, has called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in their support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Edeeze, a Board of Trustees (BoT) member of APC, made the call at a press briefing with newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday.
According to him, the Buhari’s APC’s ‘Next Level’ administration will focus on building stronger, more virile and economically prosperous nation for the people.
Edeeze, who is also the chairman Governing Board of the Federal College of Education, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti state, commended Nigerians for voting for the re-election of Buhari.
He said that the administration despite the poor economy it inherited in 2015 has been able to reposition the economy through economic diversification and fight against financial graft.
He said that Buhari has remained faithful and committed in bringing about the real change which his administration promised the people when it came to power nearly four years ago.
He said: ”Four years ago, our party promised Nigerians real change in what we do and how we do it.
“Nigerians sent a clear message in the last election by the overwhelming vote they gave for the re-election of Mr President.
“Our platform has again offered a new, ambitious plan for the building of a stronger nation, secure, prosperous and corruption-free country.
“The Next Level is all about intensifying and improving on the existing situation from where we are, there are programmes of APC that are ongoing including the N-Power social investment scheme for youth empowerment.
“The Next Level is important because all the areas that were not taken care of under the first tenure will be addressed.
“We are going to expand and improve on the existing developmental arrangements that we have and we will make sure that we sustain the existing reforms in our economy to make it the best in Africa.
“Our economy and the infrastructure supporting its growth and development will be comparable with other advanced world economies.
“Our party had worked hard to fulfil our promises and while the road may have been difficult, over the last three and a half years, the president has laid the foundations for a strong, stable and prosperous country for the majority of our people,” Edeeze said.
He described the president as a great achiever who through dint of selfless and patriotic lifestyle had laid foundation for a better Nigeria.
“Foundational work is not often visible, neither is it glamourous, but it is vital to achieving the kind of country we desire and Mr President has just set the ball rolling in this regard.
“Judging by the prior depth of decay, deterioration and disrepair that Nigeria had fallen into, we are certain that these past few years have put us in good stead to trudge on the ‘Next Level’ of building an even stronger nation for our people,” he added.
Edeeze re-affirmed the supremacy of the party to determine how the principal offices in the forthcoming ninth National Assembly should be zoned.
According to him, the members-elect of the incoming ninth national assembly were sponsored by their political parties hence the parties would determine how the offices should be allocated.
“INEC didn’t know the lawmakers-elect by their names during the election, it was their parties’ logos that were inscribed in the ballot papers, hence the party remains supreme in determining how the offices will be allocated.”
The party chieftain, who spoke on the poor performance of APC in Ebonyi in the last general election, urged aggrieved party faithful not to lose hope assuring that the party would bounce back to prominence in the state. (NAN)
