President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the true measure of a political party is its membership strength and their conviction about the group.
Tinubu spoke today at Asaba when Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire structure of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Represented by Vice President Senator Kassim Shettima he said, “The true measure of a political party lies not merely in the industry, the very name of its members, but in the conviction. It is in fact among those who once stood across from them.
President Tinubu who described the movement as a political tsunami lauded Governor Oborevwori and Senator Okowa for their cordial relationship as well as with leading members of the PDP to the APC.
“What can be greater than the promise of this day? This is a political tsunami of unimaginable proportion that has never happened in the history of the South-South region and barely in the history of this country.
“A political tsunami of this proportion has never happened where all the members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly are in the APC.
“The Speaker and all the members of the House of Assembly. So many members of the House of Representatives, the Governor and his entire cabinet and 500 councillors across the 25 local government areas of this great state. What testimony do you have greater than this?
“The true measure of a political party lies not merely in the industry, the very name of its members, but in the conviction. It is in fact among those who once stood across from them.
“This vindication is even more fundamental. When those who once saw us as outsiders and opponents, crossed the lines of difference to become part of the enduring family we have built.
“This historic day, therefore, is both a celebration of the enduring promise of the APC and a tribute to the vision, courage, and foresight of the great giants we have come to welcome into the hall of fame of our political party, along with their devoted followers who are joining us today.
“I want to pay special tribute to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the wonderful relationship that exists between him and his successor.
“Senator Okowa, you are indeed a great leader and Governor Oborevwori, for embracing him, for treating him with respect and decorum, you are even a greater leader.” he said.
“We are here with our unshaken belief in the power of collaboration, the understanding that we are stronger together than we can ever be, apart.
“What sets the APC apart is not an illusion of uniformity; it is our accepting that differences are inevitable and that greatness lies in managing them.
“Our tables have always been tables of dialogue, places where every member, no matter how big or small, is welcome to air their grievances.
“Your Excellencies Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the other great men and women, we welcome you to the APC today.
“I bring them the warm assurance of His Excellency President Bola, Ahmed Tinubu, and all members of the APC.
“Now that you have come, we are all co-owners because, according to the constitution of the party, the Governor of the party is the leader of the party in the state, this is now as much as your party as it is ours.
“You have brought to us a wealth of experience, a breath of wisdom and a measure of strength for which we shall always remain grateful.
“This is a declaration that the strength of our great nation is alive, a spirit that brings your personal ambition, your party alliance and sees the larger set of history.
“Nigeria is greater than all of us and what we do here today is a step towards strengthening our promise. We welcome you, Your Excellency, not as defectors but as brothers and sisters who have found your rightful place amongst us.
“We welcome you not as guests but as family; we welcome you as fellow architects of a better Nigeria and may this day be remembered not just by what it signifies today but for the enduring fraternity and vision of source for tomorrow.”
Speaking at the event, Governor Oborevwori described the move as a “movement,” emphasizing that it was not merely a defection but a collective decision made after thorough consultations with stakeholders at every level, including the National Assembly, state, local government, and ward representatives.
“What you are seeing here today is a movement. It is not a defection. We have done consultations with the National Assembly, stakeholders at the state, local government, and ward levels. And we all decided to join APC. This is Delta, and Delta cannot carry last,” Oborevwori declared.
The Governor was joined by an overwhelming number of political figures, including 500 councillors, all local government chairmen, and state, ward, and local government party chairmen. He said the move marks the end of a decade-long opposition in the state, signaling a new era for the APC in Delta.
“This movement is not only for us in Delta; it is a statement. I believe other governors will join, and when you have a movement, you don’t fail,” he added, conveying a sense of optimism for the future and anticipating further defections from other state leaders.
Oborevwori also assured the crowd including the Vice President Senator Kassim Shettima, the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, 10 APC state governors among others that, with his arrival in the APC, the party in Delta would no longer be divided. “There will be no more factions. The governor takes charge,” he affirmed, stressing his leadership role in steering the state’s political direction.
“what you have seen here today is a movement: it’s not a defection; it’s a movement. We have done consultations with our National Assembly members, with leadership, with stakeholders at the state level, at the senatorial level, at the local government level, at the ward level and we all decided that we must all join.
“This is Delta State; we cannot carry last. When we stand for something, we remain committed to it; we have been in opposition for almost 10 years.
“Do we need that? Mr. President has supported us, he has shown us love. We cannot face him in 2027 to work against him. That love that he has shown to us in Delta State, we need to reciprocate it.
“We cannot do it in our own party. We have to be inside to do it, and to do it well”, saying; “when you consult widely you see everybody will come with you and you can see that the love is organic: you can see my relationship with governors; you see all the governors here.
“You see the large number of governors: yesterday 9 came and slept over. Today, see all of them here. I want to bless all of you; I want to thank all of you.
“This is a movement: this is not a defection; we have agreed we will move together and when we move together, what is at the national we will be able to grab it.
“Our members in the National Assembly they are the next; they have agreed they will all defect on the floor of the house, and we have justification to move.
“All of us want to be in the Renew Hope Agenda which is in line with my MORE Agenda. “
He stressed, “For us in Delta State, it’s a statement and I believe other governors will join because it’s a movement and when you have a movement, you don’t fail.
“There are some things people say in newspapers, that there is confusion, there is a faction in Delta APC. As I have come, there will be no faction again. Let me tell you, the Governor takes charge, and we are taking charge.
“I don’t believe in any faction, whether Omo-Agege or Keyamo faction, everybody must queue and we will unite the party to move this state forward for the benefit of our people and to bring development, peace and unity to our state and Nigeria.”
National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, applauded the cordial relationship between the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
He said the National Working Committee, NWC of the party was highly impressed because of the cordial relationship existing between the predecessor and successor which, according to him, was very rare in the country.
“So, we have to thank Dr. Okowa for that good relationship. Ladies and gentlemen, my job is very important which is accepting, welcoming and also, embracing the Governor and the people of Delta State into our great party, the APC.
“Mr. Governor, what l would like to tell you while accepting you into our party, is that our core value in APC is progressive leadership and coincidentally, from what we have seen on the ground in respect of your programmes and your projects, you are a progressive Governor.
“So, we are welcoming you for coming home. We believe in progressive ideas, we believe in proximity, interacting with different levels of our party; we believe in openness, we believe in internal democracy, we believe in self -accountability and we thank you for coming in,” he said.
Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma said APC stands for protection of national interest as he has described the party and national development.
Uzodinma who said the level of development across Delta under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was not a surprise added that it is because the state haß APC tendencies.
“I am not surprised the governor in his wisdom decided to join our great party because we are seeing is what he is already doing in Delta State.
“We are here to demonstrate the wisdom in his action. We are here to demonstrate that the APC means well for our country. We are here to identify with him and to assure the people of Delta State that this decision will lead them from where they are now to the next level”.
On his part, the immediate past Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa explained that the decision to change political direction was made for the common good and in the best interest of the state.
“It was not about personal ambitions but the need to connect to Abuja, where significant goodwill and resources exist, especially since the state is a major contributor.
Reflecting on his experience as a former governor in opposition, Okowa emphasized that while Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was performing well, aligning with Abuja would strengthen his efforts.
He called for strong support for both the President and the Governor, believing that the unity would allow them to dominate the political landscape of Delta State.
The ceremony was attended by 16 Governors of the APC and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Benjamin Kalu, among others.
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