The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described former Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime as a progressive politician, who left indelible marks in the state.
The APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Mr Emma Enukwu, said this in Enugu on Saturday at the official registration of the former governor as a member of the party.
Enukwu said that it would be very difficult for any governor to replicate what Chime achieved in the state through selfless service.
He said that it was the performance of the former governor that caught the eye of the APC and they persuaded him to join his fellow progressives.
“Chime is a progressive politician and the APC in the zone will celebrate people like him. We cannot go after people that did not introduce change in the society.
“It was during his time as governor that I knew roads could go into the hinterlands. He left a difficult precedence for anybody coming after him,” he said.
He said that the entrance of the former governor into their party was a wakeup call to other politicians in the zone but added that the party would only accept progressives into its fold.
“Being a real political philosopher, Chime decided to leave his former party before it collapses on him.
“He is leaving because he wants our people to join mainstream politics,” he said.
Enukwu said that the entrance of Chime and other progressives into the party would usher in a new lease of life for the people.
“The APC is the only party that can take us as a people to the destination we clamour for.
“In the other party our people occupied strategic positions for many years, but they could not use it to the advantage of the zone. They could not attract development projects.
“But under the two years of this administration work is going on in many federal roads as well as the second Niger Bridge. So, Sullivan has made the right choice,” Enukwu said.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said that Enugu State and indeed the South-East were strategic to the APC.
Tambuwal said that the zone had for several years worked cordially with politicians from the north, adding that it would not be news to have the region work together with the rest of the country.
“APC wants to do business with the people of the South-East to ensure that the country remains united for greater future,” Tambuwal said.
The state APC Chairman, Mr Ben Nwoye, said that the presence of the crowd at the rally had shown that APC had come to stay.
“The crowd is to show you that Ndigbo is in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and the change mantra,” Nwoye said.
He said that the youths were agitating for change that would move the country to greater height. (NAN)
EOA/OFN/AFA