From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

TheDeputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ben Nwoye, has charged party members not to allow the opposition parties to regroup and distract President Bola Tinubu from his focus of re-election and repositioning the country.

He issued the caution when he received in audience the G-37 former state chairmen of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), at the APC’s national headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

Nwoye further appealed to the party members to help the opposition parties understand that Nigeria has no other better option than to re-elect President Tinubu, a man who has a clear vision for reforming the country.

He emphasised that in doing so, the party members must mobilise Nigerians, reconnect with them and reignite their energy.

The former Secretary of the APC State Chairmen’s Forum, argued that though many members may not have benefited directly through appointments, they are, however, enjoying the roads President Tinubu has built in the Southern zone.

“As the opposition continues to regroup, it is our responsibility not to allow them to distract our leader, President Tinubu. We must mobilise our members, reconnect with them and reignite their energy.

“We must help them understand that we have no better option than to re-elect a man, who has a clear vision for reforming Nigeria. Even if we have not all benefited directly through appointments, we are all enjoying the roads being built.

“I recently drove from Enugu through Awka, Onitsha, Asaba, Agbor and Warri. Those roads were smooth. I also travelled through the East-West Road, Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Okigwe and back to Enugu without making any detour. Those are tangible benefits delivered under President Tinubu.

“The progress we have made belongs to all of us and we must take ownership of it because the progressives are now leading Nigeria forward,” he said.

Making further appeals to them, Nwoye noted: “We recognise that we have not fully tapped into your knowledge and political experience. The party has grown significantly. During my campaign for this position, I said we must honour newcomers, welcome them and celebrate them. However, we must never neglect or discard the founders of this party,” he assured.

In his remarks, leader of the G37 group, Cletus Obum, expressed optimism that Nigeria is going to witness the final political burial of the opposition parties.

According to him, “The APC is unlike any other party. It is the only party I know where, in 2019, candidates received financial support from the party to prosecute their campaigns and supported on election day. That is commendable.

“I am confident that our deputy national chairman will strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 elections. We are going to witness the final political burial of the opposition, although we still need the opposition to maintain the semblance of democracy,” he said.