Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South East have met with President Muhamamdu Buhari and endorsed him for a second term in 2019.
The party chieftains, who met behind closed doors with the President on Monday at the Presidential Villa Abuja, were led to the meeting by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
Briefing State House correspondents on the purpose of the meeting, Onu said that the APC leaders came to intimate the President of the decision reached at a meeting of the party chiefs on December 31, 2017 and endorsed the President for a second term.
Onu said, “We have come today to reaffirm that and to assure Mr. President that the party is working very hard to win future elections.” The minister said Buhari was happy especially considering the calibre of members of the delegation.
He said, “He was very happy because you can see the calibre of people in this delegation, a very high-powered delegation.
“We have former leaders of the National Assembly at the highest level, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, former heads of government at the state level, one governor or represented by the deputy governor because the governor is out of the country, all the ministers from the South East, serving members in the National Assembly both in the Senate and House of Representatives, former members of the National Assembly and very important members in the party.
“We have our National Vice Chairman in the South East, members of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee all present.
“So, the President was very happy that such a delegation thought it fit to come and visit him.” Addressing the APC South-East leaders, President Buhari pledged to give his best to all Nigerians, guided by a clear conscience in making decisions for the progress of the country, thanking them for their patriotism, sacrifices and support for the peace and stability of the country.
Buhari also commended the South East leaders for acknowledging the laudable and consistent efforts of his administration to restore Nigeria to the position of eminence.
He said, ‘‘I am very pleased for your patriotism and consistency in supporting our administration. You are always going around explaining things even at the risk of abuse.
‘‘I want you to know that I have not forgotten the efforts and sacrifices you have made in the successes I have achieved in my position and I appreciate what you are doing for the stability of our country and the future of our children and our grandchildren.
‘‘I assure you that whatever I try to do, I will do it with a clear conscience and I’ll do the best I can do for all Nigerians. In an address on behalf of South East leaders, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman, South East APC, thanked the President for the several projects receiving attention of the Federal Government in the South East including , 2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road as well as the Enugu-Onitsha –Owerri Road , among others.
Reaffirming the unanimous decision of the party in the zone on December 31, 2017 endorsing the President for a second term in office, Eneukwu said: ‘‘It is our conviction that four years is not enough for you to complete this worthy journey hence the need for another four years to enable you make Nigeria truly great.’’
He added: ‘‘We implore Mr President, as a just and fair-minded leader, to make history by supporting the zoning of the office of the President in our great party to the South East at the end of your second tenure in office as President in 2023.’’
