South East All Progressives Congress(APC) State Chairmen and Secretaries on Saturday, passed a vote of confidence on the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate , Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and urged him to step in and rebuild the party in the South East.
The five State Chairmen and secretaries of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo made this known during their visit to the Senate Chief Whip in his country home of Igbere, Abia state .
The party leaders who spoke differently congratulated the former governor on his appointment by the party as the Chief Whip of the ninth assembly adding that aside being the highest elected office holder from the South East, Kalu remains the man with a strong will and capacity to rebuild and reposition the party at the moment .
“We met and touched on relevant issues on the party including the fortunes and growth status of the party in the south east. We discussed in details on the party’s unity and prospects . At the end of the meeting, we came up with certain decisions based on party’s issues and needs , and we have unanimously passed a vote of confidence on you to step in and rebuild our party “ the Abia APC Chairman , Hon.Donatus Nwankpa said amidst thunderous applause from other leaders .
Also speaking , Chairman of the APC , in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, noted that the aspirations of South East for fairness and equitable development would be better met under an APC led federal government.
He pleaded with Kalu to reorganize the South East APC adding that calling for meetings of party leaders and stakeholders is one of their expectations of him .
Adding to the call , the chairman of Anambra State APC , Chief Basil Ejidike described Kalu as a true leader with passion for the welfare of the ordinary people. He praised Kalu for his goodwill to the party and expressed appreciation to Kalu for his “grand efforts in strengthening the party and working assiduously for its continuous growth”
Responding to the party leaders, the Senate Chief Whip, who has been in his country home interacting with his constituents since the senate commenced its recess, apologized to the party leaders for hosting them in Igbere instead of Abuja as requested.
He thanked the leaders for their visit and expressed his concern on the further growth of the party . He charged them to write and officially congratulate the newly appointed ministers and other appointees from the South East .
According to him , the party will retain its presidential seat beyond 2023 as long as President Muhammadu Buhari remains in the party . He also proposed to the party to make President Muhammadu Buhari the Chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) of the APC upon the expiration of his second tenure .
He said , “ Your concern about the unity and growth of our great party in the South East is in order because the job is on your desk . I am much more concerned than you . And let me tell you – Anybody telling you that the APC will not come back after 2023 is only deceiving himself . The only reason that could make APC not to return after 2023 is if President Muhammadu Buhari leaves the party . And you all know the answer . As a party , we should be thinking of not just the present but the future of the party . We should be thinking of how to retain President Buhari as an active player in the party after the expiration of his second tenure . This we can achieve by asking him to be the Chairman of Board of Trustees of our party .
Kalu also said the President does not only need the support of the party to succeed but the support of entire Nigerians .
“ One of the reasons the National Assembly did not waste time in screening and clearing the President’s cabinet is because we needed the executive to kick off immediately with our full support. The period of quarrels and bickering between the legislative and executive is over . We are out to support the President for a successful second term that would see the economy booming again” The Senate Chief Whip said .
Meanwhile, about 2000 women under the aegis of Ojiogo women of Igbere also paid a solidarity visit to Kalu at his Neya Camp country home on Saturday.
According to the women, the visit was a demonstration of love , support and appreciation to one of their own who has given so much to his community.
One after the other, the leaders of Ojiogo women who spoke in their local dialect, took turns to eulogize Kalu for being a shining light and trailblazer for Igbere and Abia state . They prayed God to preserve him and to complete the good job he has started with him .
