Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa, factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has just lauded the appointment of Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as minister of State for Foreign Affairs. According to him, the move by the President is audacious, laudable and commendable.
Ezeokenwa, who was elected as APGA National Chairman in 2023 following the completion of a two-term tenure by the former National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Tinubu had on Wednesday, appointed seven new ministers and assigned portfolios to them, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Ezeokeonwa said that as a father of the party, he felt very proud over Bianca’s appointment.
“Bianca is one of the most revered members of the party; very iconic. A woman with sterling qualities, wife of our foremost national leader."
“In life and in death, we have an external leader, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and he is our spiritual leader because APGA is not your regular political party."
“I wish to commend Tinubu for making such a laudable and audacious move.”
Ezeokenwa, a legal practitioner, said he was in support of the president to succeed but something urgent must be done to revive the economy.
“I can tell that the economy of this country has taken the brunt for the past few years; nobody can shy away from the fact that Nigerians are suffering."
“No matter how one wants to play politics, the president has come out differently to admit that he understands the pains and agony of Nigerians, so, he understands the reality, the inflation trend is worrisome."
“In trying to turn things around, you must look beyond your party men, you must go beyond partisan politics, go beyond party affiliations, and fish out credible Nigerians who have what it takes, those technocrats and eggheads who can actually make a difference."
“Because at the end of the day, it is all about Nigerians, I want Tinubu to succeed because if he succeeds, Nigeria will succeed, if he succeeds, the level of hunger in the country will be suppressed.”
According to him, if the president succeeds, it will be better for the image of the country as investors will come in. He said Nigeria should not just be number one in Africa but among the five leading economies in the world.
“We have what it takes, we have the vast human capital, so, I commend the president for making that very bold and audacious move; looking beyond his political party to invite people who have what it takes to help in his renewed hope agenda.”
On the crisis in the party, he said there was no fictionalization in APGA as the party remained a united, indivisible family.
“Everything about politics is dynamism, and so, for APGA, we don’t lose sight of the fact that there can be issues, but the party will still thrive."
“What we have in APGA today is not fictional, but rather, an attempt by some people who are not members of APGA trying to hijack the party through the back door,” he clarified.
