The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has appointed the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, as the party’s national leader.
The party made this disclosure in is a press statement released on Friday titled, ‘Soludo takes charge, appointed national leader of APGA by the National Executive Committee of the Party’.
According to the release, members of the party’s NEC unanimously appointed the governor as APGA’s national leader during its meeting held at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Anambra State.
Following his appointment, Soludo was handed a certificate of appointment by the national chairman of the Party, Victor Oye, in the presence of all the NEC members.
Receiving the certificate, Soludo said he felt the weight of his forebears with the appointment, adding that he was honoured to be the third leader of the party, after the late Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, and his (Soludo’s) predecessor, Willie Obiano, as the first and the second respectively.
“This has humbled me! I’m feeling the weight of history right now. The APGA is a coalition of all progressives. I feel the weight of our forebearers and those who have sacrificed their lives to ensure the survival of this great party.
“There was a grand progressive alliance in the first and second republics that included the UPN, RPP, NPP, and others.
“All of the progressives are dispersed throughout this republic. APGA is a 21-year-old political party that was the first to be registered with the word ‘progressives’ in its name.
“All progressives call APGA home. It’s a history with two leaders, and I’m honored to be the third.
“I must pay tribute to my predecessors, Late Sir Chukwuemeka Ojukwu of blessed memory, the first National Leader of APGA; Chief Willie Obiano, my immediate predecessor as the APGA’s second leader, and here I am.”
The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria pledged to work towards ensuring that “all progressives in Nigeria” know APGA, which he claimed was the third largest political party in the country, as their home.
He said, “I pledge to work every day with all of you, our thronging members, so that all progressives in Nigeria will know that APGA is their home.
“APGA is the third largest political party in Nigeria and will grow from strength to strength. When the country is ready, APGA will be there to provide the true progressivism that Nigeria craves.”
“APGA has the potential to make Nigeria the world’s largest black nation. APGA has the potential to expand its domain in Nigeria. We have representation in the Governorship, House of Representatives, and National House of Assembly.
“We have a responsibility to work very hard to maintain and expand our pace.”
“This great party has my personal commitment. I came to this platform after many thoughtful years, and I read the party’s constitution and manifesto. It is the first political party to pledge support for true federalism.
“APGA is still the road map to a better Nigeria. I will uphold this party’s principles and ethics.
“We increased employees pay by 10%. This is a pro-people government because that is who we are. We leave no one behind, which is why we are progressives who care about people.
“We are working on power to provide 24 hours power. We’re getting started. People will have access to high-speed Wi-Fi and Internet, thanks to the installation of 2000 kilometres of fibre optic cables.
“APGA will win in the coming months”, adding that, “and then the real work will begin. We will run for every office in the country and, by God’s grace, we will win.”
