ENUGU/Nigeria: The political divide in the All Progressive Congress, APC Enugu state chapter is getting deeper with the recent call by a section of the party for the sack of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama by the Buhari government.
Reacting to the call, a group of the APC in the state in a press release, under the Central Working Committee, (CWC), and signed by Adolphus Ude Acting Chairman of the party, said such a call is not from the party but from the suspended chairman, Mr Ben Nwoye and his followers whom the statement called political fugitives.
The statement stated that the party celebrates the president and his entire cabinet for their numerous achievements.
“The Party celebrates President Muhammadu Buhari and his entire cabinet for the numerous achievements this government has made.”
Stating further their supports for the government and the person of the foreign minister, they called to mind the steps the ministry under Mr Onyeama had brought improved perception of Nigeria by other governments of the world.
“For the record, in 2015 the Image of Nigeria internationally was in a deplorable state with very high records of institutionalised corruption and impunity. The Foreign Affairs Minister took conscious steps to change that perception and within a very short period, it restored the Country to its pride of place among the comity of nations”.
“Today, there is now an international realisation that previous shocking levels of impunity, arrogance of power and corruption that bedevilled the country’s image and brand are no longer acceptable under the APC administration”.
“In 2015, foreign investors were fleeing the country because the national economy which after rebasing was rated the largest in Africa had suffered serious damage and was almost prostrate. However, through strategic efforts and alliances forged for Nigeria by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Foreign Direct Investors are beginning to return to the country with renewed faith in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) which is a three year plan designed to reflate and redirect the economy on the path of growth. This has resulted in massive foreign capital investment in the country”.
“The economy has started responding to the initiatives to re-attract foreign investors into the country inspired by the Minister as evidenced in the recent announcement by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that the country has officially come out of recession”.
“In spite of the threat to Nigeria’s integrity, security and peace by the Boko Haram insurgents, armed herdsmen, and Biafra separatist groups which is conveyed to the rest of world on a daily basis by both local and foreign media operating in the country, Nigeria has not been classified as a failed state among the comity of nations, because of the concerted efforts of the Foreign Affairs Minister in building and preserving a positive perception of the country in the minds of other world leaders”.
“We cannot forget how the Foreign Affairs Minister under the instruction of President Buhari mobilised other African leaders to force erstwhile President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia to relinquish power in Gambia”.
“Under the see of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Nigeria and President Buhari have enjoyed massive international goodwill and support as can be seen in the volume of high-tech Defence equipment the US and other Super Power countries have agreed to make available to the country at little or no cost”.
“As we speak, the Foreign Affairs Minister is busy with ensuring that Nigeria appends its national signature to the anti-nuclear weapon treaty”.
“Hence, we make bold to say that Enugu APC is proud of the Foreign Affairs Minister and his legacies which we hope will be immortalized in the anal of Nigerian history”.
They statement while advising Mr Nwoye to clear his name in connections to the various petitions against him, he should to leave Mr Godffrey Onyeama alone to do his work.
“We advise Ben Nwoye to leave the Foreign Affairs Minister alone and return to Illinois state in the US where he is facing charges of alleged dishonest conduct in relation to two matters of his clients which led to his disbarment from the state Bar association”.
He should also find time to clear his name in connection with the petitions containing allegations of financial impropriety filed before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
