A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, said a lot of politicians left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led government after sixteen years in power because of their strong belief that Nigeria and Nigerians needed a better alternative.
This is as he said the APC is not just a political party but the symbol of the faith of Nigerians and a political expression of the conviction of the Nigerian people that Nigeria can be made to work for the majority of Nigerians.
Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during the inauguration of his liaison office, christened, “Freedom House”, urged APC members to make whatever sacrifices that are necessary to reflect this idea and the desire of the Nigerian people, not just to do things differently, but to do things better.
He said, “I want to remind us all that we turned our back on the PDP government because after sixteen years we all agreed that Nigeria and Nigerians could do better. That is why Nigerians demanded for an alternative”.
“The All Progressives Congress is not just a political party; it is the symbol of the faith of Nigerians. It is the political expression of the conviction of the Nigerian people that Nigeria can be made to work for the majority of Nigerians”.
“Therefore, as members of the All Progressives Congress, we must do whatever we can, and we must make whatever sacrifices that are necessary to reflect this idea and the desire of the Nigerian people, not just to do things differently, but to do things better”.
“The idea of the APC was to ensure that the old ways do not continue. Our slogan of change captivated this country, and President Muhammadu Buhari was the symbol of that hunger for change. Change is always difficult and those who genuinely desire change must be prepared to fight for it.
“The only political vehicle in our country that is committed to the ideal of a better future for all Nigerians is the All Progressives Congress and the only leader in this country today that has staked his reputation and his commitment to change is President Muhammadu Buhari”.
“No matter the challenges, I call on Nigerians to rally behind the President and join the APC to fight for the change that we desire. We are the ones who can make it happen”.
“Those who are running helter-skelter either to go back to the vehicles of the past that all Nigerians saw clearly as incapable of leading us to progress and prosperity are missing the point. Those that are scrambling around for a new vehicle are equally missing the point”.
“By their actions they have shown Nigerians that they have neither the faith nor the resilience to lead this country to success. Whatever new vehicle they produce now will still be a human vehicle. It will still have human challenges and may face the same storms that the APC is facing today. If that happens tomorrow what will they do? Will they jump off again and begin to search for another vehicle?”
“Those who genuinely want this country to succeed must stay in the APC, they must join the APC, they must come together and let us work together, fight together to change Nigeria and make it work. Every other effort in any other direction is wasted effort”.
“We gave the PDP sixteen uninterrupted years before we agreed that no redemption was possible. In three years the APC government has shown great promise. Yes, there are challenges, but there are also verifiable achievements which Nigerians can be proud of.”
The governorship hopeful said, “Nigeria is going through a time of great challenges and also a time of great opportunities. The challenges are there but the opportunities will open up to those who can find the courage and conviction to take advantage of the present climate of change in our country”.
“We need to consolidate on the foundations that this APC Government has laid for the development of dear our nation. The opposition has already embarked on orchestrated smear campaign against the federal government”.
“If you listen to the opposition version of Nigeria, you will get the impression that nothing positive has been achieved in this country under this government and that life under PDP was like Eldorado.”