says ‘our goal is to support good governance’
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BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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Former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State Chapter, Dr Ben Nwoye has unveiled a political group in Nsukka, called ‘The Progressives”, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The event held at Ugwuoye in the heart of the University town on Thursday, was attended by politicians mostly the aggrieved from the stable of APC, Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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Speaking to journalists after the maiden gathering, the Leader of ‘The Progressives’, Dr Nwoye said they started the political movement in Nsukka because of the progressive nature and politics of Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
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Nwoye noted, “When it comes to APC, Enugu North Senatorial Zone gave Enugu State Chapter the impetus to operate. If you recall from Ideke – Okey Ezea to Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze (now of blessed memory), these are the people that gave impetus to APC. And today, Senator Okey Ezea is in Labour Party.
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“So, our goal is to galvanize our people because the people we organized have been scattered by the oppressive leadership of APC in Enugu State. We don’t want them to go without a political goal.
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“Now, they have a political goal, with this political goal that we have established, we will now move on to Enugu West Senatorial Zone and then to Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
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“You can see the large turn-out even when it was restricted to two persons per ward. It was restricted otherwise, here would have been filled with people. We have to practically move the venue twice to avoid late crashers. Many people have been homeless during my eight years of political journey in APC.
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According to the former Federal Commissioner at the Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), “The new APC Chairman of APC in the state has spent more time suspending and expelling his members than accommodating people with different opinions.
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“As I said, what we have done is to practically bring everybody back, everyone, who has been disenchanted in APC, whether you have been expelled, suspended or whatever, they are welcomed to this group.
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“Our goal is to support good governance, ensure that good governance strives in Enugu State. Once we can get good governance in Enugu State, it will be good for our people.
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“We will not form a parallel government. We are not interested in pursuing a progressive agenda where we support any government that is progressive in nature, that is benefiting our people, driving the development of Enugu State.”
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“We have a structure in place for Enugu State. Today, we have leadership of progressives in all the 105 wards and in all the six local government areas of this zone”, he stated.
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The hosts of the meeting, he said are Dr Obi Arji and Hon. Tony Ibekwe.
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Asked about the name of the political party the pressure group will join, the ex-Enugu APC boss said, “In appropriate time, we will resolve to join whatever party we want to join. Today, The Progressive group is one. You can say it is coalition if you want to use it but it is not an off-shoot of the coalition you see. By the way, on behalf of The Progressives from Enugu State, I commend the leadership of the Coalition and the Central Heads, El-Rufai, Peter Obi and then Atiku.
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“These people have dreamt of a new Nigeria, they have seen the suffering of Nigerians and they are doing what they can do to change the narrative.
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