Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, Tony Okocha, has charged the incoming government of Nigeria to tackle challenges of security, ethnicity, religion affecting the nation’s growth.
The APC chieftain gave the advice yesterday in Port Harcourt, at a prayer session to commemorate the 71st birthday of the president-elect, Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Some members of the APC led by Okocha, had converged on Rumuigbo community hall in Port Harcourt, to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari’s led government, the incoming government, the party structure and Nigeria at large.
Responding to questions by journalists at the event, Okocha expressed belief that the leadership of the president-elect would enhance the speedy growth of the country.
He said: “Tinubu is an icon in all ramification. I see him as paragon of excellence, not because of what he is today but judging by his past records. 23 years down the line he was governor of Lagos state and the achievements of his regime are like mirror that every other successful government has come imitate.
“He has put a blueprint in Lagos that successive governors and administrations have followed, that today Lagos is the centre of Excellence, is the Fourth largest economy in Africa.
“He dealt with the economy. Lagos was earning less than N500 million but with the coming of Tinubu, Lagos began to get billion naira and above. And so he will replicate that in Nigeria as a president.”
Speaking further, the former Chief of Staff to the Rivers Government said: “A lot of things should be fixed, like security, issues of ethnicity and religion should be discussed. We must discuss these issues and put pace to it because the issues affect the nation’s growth.
“If I were to be in his shoes, I will convoke a conference just like was done before or if there was such report from that conference, should bring it up and let people discuss on it and put a seal to it so that Nigeria can be better.”
He commended Tinubu for urging Nigerians to pray for the nation and its government on his birthday, stressing that “The president has demonstrated the highest level of patriotism opting that Nigerians should pray for the federation, outgoing and incoming government. This is rear because is his first birthday.”
