The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reacted to the recent appointment of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs by President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that Tinubu, during the week, dismissed some of his ministers and appointed others to reshuffle his cabinet.
The Ministerial appointees, however, are subject to screening and confirmation by the Senate in the coming week.
Reacting to the development, APGA said Ojukwu’s appointment represents a bold and commendable decision by President Bola Tinubu.
APGA factional National Chairman Sly Ezeokenwa expressed his pride in Bianca’s appointment, emphasizing his role as a father figure within the party.
Ezeokenwa, who assumed the role of APGA National Chairman in 2023 after the conclusion of Chief Victor Oye’s two-term, eight-year leadership, said: “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,” he told newsmen in Abuja on Friday.
He said he had previously made calls on the need for the president to form a strong cabinet of technocrats who would drive his agenda effectively.
Ezeokenwa, a legal practitioner, said he supported the president’s success, 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 on different fora 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; you go beyond party affiliations; 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 wane,” the APGA chieftain noted.
According to him, if the president succeeds, it will improve the image of the country as investors will come in.
He said that 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 be[[yond his political party to invite people who have it takes to help in his renewed hope agenda,” Ezeokenwa said.
He mentioned that it was necessary to spread out Nigeria’s security framework to tackle the various security issues the nation is dealing with.
Regarding the party crisis, he stated that there was no exaggeration in APGA, as the party stayed together as a cohesive, unbreakable unit.
“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 fictionalization; what we have is an attempt by some people who are not members of APGA trying to hijack the party though the back door,” he said.
