By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
Ebonyi State, South East, Nigeria, practically stood still on Saturday as one of its political titan and Nigeria's former number three citizen, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, formerly announced his much expected cross-over to the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan's administration made the historic declaration of his entry into the APC at the party's major rally held at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, amidst celebration from a huge mass of his political supporters and influencial party men, women and the rank and file.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper reliably gathered at the weekend that Senator Anyim has been under intense pressure from the APC to dump his former party, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since the event of the Presidential Primary of the PDP held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, in which Anyim was strongly believed to have been short-changed by the PDP being one of its foremost Presidential aspirant for the 2023 polls.
For over one year while the campaign period lasted, Anyim who was the first Igbo-born politician with a strong and broad national political stature, put up a vigorous and an all embracing campaign outings across the country and across the various political stakeholders to convince the Nigerian voters while he was the better or best man for the country's Presidency at the time.
Senator Pius Anyim's cross-over to the ruling party was considered as a big event towards re-launching the South East geo-political to the mainstream national politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. Anyim defected alongside Architect Edward Nwekegu, another political notable in Ebonyi on the platform of state's Labour Party.
Presenting their resolutions on behalf of the PDP and Labour Party to join APC, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Edward Nwekegu, urged the support of Ebonyi people to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and it's Renewed Hope Agenda. The duo also rallied support for the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
Senator Anyim hinted that he was leaving the PDP, a party upon which the foundation of his political career was built and nurtured twenty five ago, to the APC to continue in his quest for a peaceful, united and prosperous nation, especially in an atmosphere of a stable political platform.
He reminded the gathering on why he joined APC that, "This day marks a significant moment in Ebonyi State’s governance. Today, we stand united once again. While this decision is saddening, it is not about me, but about the people of Ebonyi State. We deliberated and reached resolutions prior to this defection".
Anyim added: “We urge all Ebonyi residents to support the President as he navigates the nation through these challenging times. Our people have decided to back the President and the Minister of Works in enhancing the administration of Bola Tinubu. We call upon all Nigerians to rally behind the President". NNL.
