Southeast must connect to the centre and Anambra 'll join in November, Ganduje boasts

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By Madu Obi

The national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdulahi Ganduje has urged states in the South East geopolitical zone to strive to be connected to the centre through the ruling party at the national level.

He said the party would do everything humanly possible to ensure that Anambra connects to the center in November this year.

Ganduje, who spoke during the inauguration of the state secretariat of APC in Awka, described the Igbo race as the most nationalistic tribe in Nigeria, and that there is need for them to connect to the centre by keying into the APC to properly gain the dividends inherent in the country.

The new office was procured, equipped and furnished by two of its governorship aspirants; Sir Paul Chukwuma and Prof. Obiora Okonkwo.

Ganduje said: "We must be focused, we must have plans, we must have vision and I can see that the party in Anambra is fully aware of that. You have five states, we pray for more states for you(South East), but you must strive to connect to the centre.

We want to connect you to the centre; we want to plug you to the national grid. Now, politically, you are under rural electrification, you are under generator and this is unacceptable; you need to connect to the national grid.

You are the most nationalistic people one can find anywhere in Nigeria. Everywhere you go, you must see the Igbo doing one thing or another, and that is what being nationalistic means. Why then do you want to cocoon yourself in one corner?

We want to take you back to the good old days of Ojukwu when he was pardoned to return to Nigeria in the interest of one Nigeria and the days of Nnamdi Azikiwe. I have resolved to do it and we have seen the vigour in you, the intention and we will do it starting from Anambra."

He assured the people that President Bola Tinubu believes in the unity and reforms of Nigeria.

He added: "Some of the things that need to be reformed are being taken care of. That is the mark of a leader. A leader who can fix the broken, he does not talk anyhow, but talks with facts and figures, Tinubu is taking Nigeria to the next level.

We have already started seeing the effect of the reforms. More oil is being produced, security is improving, refineries are working and our currency is improving. So, you need to be connected. We are here to seek your cooperation and commitment so that we can capture this state," he said.

Speaking earlier the state Chairman of the APC Chief Basil Ejidike lamented what he called the neglect of loyal party members in Anambra State in the appointments by the federal government.

He added that even the welfare programmes of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu administration are being hijacked by the government of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the state and urged the National Chairman to intervene and ensure inclusiveness of party members in all Federal appointments .

The governorship aspirants used the opportunity of the inauguration to show their mobilization strength, as they came with their supporters in large numbers.