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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, received former Senate President Pius Anyim Pius, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was led to the Presidential Villa by the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the South East Governors’ Forum, and Progressive Governors’ Forum, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.
On why he had to defect, Anyim said given the challenges the country was facing, there’s need for all hands to be on deck. He admitted that the country was passing through turbulent times, and it was the duty of all patriots, if he or she has nothing to add, to ensure that the country continues to have a peaceful atmosphere.
On why he was leaving the PDP, Anyim said: “Can you look back at the history of the PDP and tell me how many leaders the party has produced that had joined the APC or another party at any particular point in time, it’s common. But, importantly, I have a determination to be sure that the country moves on the right path, and I should be available to contribute my quota.”
Asked if he couldn’t have contributed his quota from the opposition party, Anyim said: “Contributing quota does not necessarily mean to work, but to engender a conducive atmosphere for progress. I’m not looking for work, but there is a need that given the challenges the country is facing today that we all need to put all hands on deck to make the country move forward.”
On his interests in the APC, the former President of the Senate said: “Certainly, the country is passing through turbulent times and it is the duty of every patriot to ensure that they contribute to the peaceful atmosphere that will engender progress in the country.”
Uzodimma described Anyim as a big fish and his defection a big plus for the ruling party, and that the party was already reaping the benefit of his defection.
“We have started harvesting from it. If you recall, only a few days ago, there were local government elections in Ebonyi State. And in that election, it was like a one party movement. The entire local governments and councils were won by the APC. The party that used to be the strong opposition party, PDP, is not anywhere to be seen. And the majority of the leaders already defected to the APC, and they voted one way.
“So, in the same manner, because democracy is about the people, when the people are now unanimously agreeing that government is doing well, and a political party is doing well, and they’re all collapsing into that political party, what is remaining is to address the campaign of calumny, arising from the propaganda of the opposition, which most of us here are used to.”
Nwifuru said Anyim was not a small fry and was not looking for food.
Asked how he felt that his state was turning into a one party state, and if it was okay for democracy, he replied: “You asked how I feel, I’m very excited, and it’s a thing of joy to me that every big fish in my state, especially that of our nation, Ayim Pius Ayim, and so many other distinguished leaders have decided to join our party, the All Progressive Congress. And is part of the dividends of democracy. We’ve been able to do well according to our own understanding, and based on our own best judgment.
And that is what is engineering a lot of them to join the APC. Like what Mr. President has done in so many areas, somebody like Pius is not a pushover. He’s not somebody that you can say because of money he is joining the APC, or that he is hungry or that he’s looking for a job like he said. So, it’s based on the disposition of Mr. President, as a leader of the party in our great nation, Nigeria, and the disposition of the Governor as a leader of the party in the state and our own Governor General in South East, the leader of the South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope, and that is what makes a lot of them to join the APC.”
