By Ifeanyi Olannye

President Bola Tinubu has described the mass movement of Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and the entire Delta Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political tsunami.

The president made the observation in Asaba, Delta capital at a formal ceremony organised to receive Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and other PDP stalwarts to the APC on Monday.

Represented by Vice-President Kassim Shettima, the president said that no testimony could be greater than such a political movement from one political party to another in the history of Nigeria than what happened in Delta.

According to Tinubu, the movement is a political tsunami of unimaginable proportion that has ever happened in the south south subregion and in the history of Nigeria.

“A tsunami of this proportion has never happened before, for all the members of the National Assembly, the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly, the governor, his cabinet, 25 local government council chairmen, 500 councillors are now members of the APC,” he said.

He said that there was no other testimony than what had happened which has vindicated the APC from those armchair critics of the party.

Tinubu said that today was a historic day to celebrate the enduring promises of the APC and a tribute to the courage and the foresight of those that have taken a stand with the APC to build a better country for all.

He paid a special tribute to the immediate past Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for the relationship that existed between him and Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, while describing Okowa as a great leader.

According to him, the party accepts that differences are inevitable and that greatness lies in managing their differences.

“Our tables have always been tables of dialogue this is why every member, no matter how great or small, is welcome to air their grievances.

“Your Excellencies, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other great men and women, we welcome you to the APC today.

“You are not just in this house, you are now co-owners, according to the APC constitution, the governor of the state is the leader of the party.

“The APC is not only stronger today, it is better because you have come with new ways of thinking, new mirror though which we can reflect on our journey.

“We welcome you not as defectors, but as brothers and sisters who have their right path. We welcome you as a family and fellow architects of a better Nigeria,” Tinubu said.

On his part, APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, lauded Gov. Oborevwori and others for their decision to defect to the ruling party.

He described the occasion as historic and thanked President Tinubu for providing a good leadership in the country that had aided other parties to join the APC.

While handing over the APC flag to Gov. Oborevwori, Ganduje assured him of all support by the presidency, all the progressive governors and the party.

Earlier, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, said that with the movement of Delta PDP to the APC, the governor and the people of Delta have made the right decision to deepen development in the state by aligning with the government at the centre.

He acknowledged that Oborevwori has worked to build infrastructure in the state because he has a progressive mind like the APC governors.

According to Uzodimma, Oborevwori, now the 22nd APC governor, will always get the support of the other 21 governors of the APC in the country.

Speaking, the immediate past Gov. Okowa, said that the decision to move to the APC was collective and the right thing to do.

According to Okowa, the state has outlived its stay in the PDP and it is time to move forward to a better platform which is the APC to benefit from the gains from the government at the centre rather than remain as opposition.

In his acceptance speech, Oborevwori said what happened was not a defection but a movement from the PDP to the APC.

He noted that remaining in opposition has never benefited the state ever since, adding that the movement was a collective decision of all from the national assembly, down to the LGAs and ward levels.

According to Oborevwori, the president has been magnanimous to the state and the only way to reciprocate is to become a family rather than opposition.

The governor pledged to galvanise the party in the state as a leader and to work with all and sundry to success, adding that the movement was a statement that other opposition states would emulate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the carnival-like ceremony had in attendance APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, National Leaders of the party and 16 APC governors.

Also, Delta Deputy Gov. Monday Onyeme, State APC Chairman, Mr Omeni Sobotie, former Senate Deputy President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agenge, Sen. Ned Nwoko, Elder Godsday Orubebe, Chief Great Ogboru, and Mr Victor Ochie, former Delta Speaker.

Others are former Reps Ndudi Elumelu, Sen. Uche Ekuwniefe, DG South East Forum, Sir Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation, among other dignitaries who graced the event. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama