By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Vice-President (VP) Kashim Shettima today said Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has now become leader of the now-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East state following his defection to the party today.
Speaking during the official welcoming of Mbah into the APC family at Okpara Square, Enugu, Shettima said: “As for the APC Convention and Constitution, the Governor is the leader of the party in the state.
“Your Excellency, you are now the leader of the APC family in Enugu State. I am the Vice-President, but the leader of the APC in Borno is Gov. Babagana Zulum.
”The President of the Senate is the number three citizen but the leader of the party in Akwa Ibom is Gov. Umo Eno.
“The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the number four citizen but the leader of the party in Kaduna State is the governor of Kaduna state.”
The Vice-President described Igbos as the ‘Nigerian Jews’, geographically mobile, economically enterprising, and educationally ambitious.
Shettima regretted that for the past 12 years, Ndigbo, one of the most vibrant ethnic groups in Africa, had been in the margin of Nigeria’s politics.
“But with the coming of Mbah, with the continuous energy being exhibited by Gov. Hope Uzodinma and Gov. Francis Nwifuru, I believe the Ndigbo have come to the mainstream of Nigeria.
“I want to assure you that President Bola Tinubu, our leader, is a man for all citizens and all people.
“A man whose word is his bond, and his sense of inclusion, his real capacity to listen, and his belief in merit over sentiment has made the APC the most formidable political party in Africa,” Shettima said.
He disclosed that Mbah had always been one of them, stressing, “You are a progressive, I am convinced that you had a broom hidden in your umbrella all these years waiting for the right moment to bring it out.
“We are one family tied to a common destiny. I want to assure all of you that you are very much welcome to the APC and we are one big family.
“Rest assured that you will be treated justly and fairly and all the developmental initiatives that have been planned for will certainly reach the South-East”.
Shettima commended APC Governors and party leaders in South-East.
