The factional National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “audacious and laudable” appointment of Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Ezeokenwa, who assumed the role of APGA National Chairman in 2023 after the conclusion of Chief Victor Oye’s two-term, eight-year tenure, spoke to reporters on Friday in Abuja.
On Wednesday, Tinubu appointed seven new ministers and allocated portfolios, pending Senate confirmation, with Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu taking on the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Ezeokenwa expressed pride in Bianca’s appointment, stating, “Bianca is one of the most revered members of the party; very iconic; a woman with sterling qualities; wife of our foremost national leader. In life and in death, we have an external leader, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu; and he is our spiritual leader because APGA is not your regular political party. I wish to commend Tinubu for making such laudable and audacious move.”
He emphasized the need for the president to form a strong cabinet of technocrats capable of effectively driving his agenda. Ezeokenwa expressed support for Tinubu’s success while stressing the urgency of reviving the economy. “I can tell that the economy of this country has taken the brunt for the past few years; nobody can shy away from the fact that Nigerians are suffering. No matter how one wants to play politics, the president has come out on different fora to admit that he understands the pains and agony of Nigerians: so, he understands the reality; the inflation trend is worrisome.”
He urged the president to look beyond party affiliations to recruit capable Nigerians who can make a difference. “Because at the end of the day, it is all about Nigerians; I want Tinubu to succeed; because if he succeeds, Nigeria will succeed; if he succeeds, the level of hunger in the country will wane.” According to him, a successful presidency would enhance Nigeria’s image and attract investment. “We should not just be number one in Africa but among the five leading economies in the world. We have what it takes; we have the vast human capital; so, I commend the president for making that very bold and audacious move; looking beyond his political party to invite people who have what it takes to help in his renewed hope agenda.”
Ezeokenwa also highlighted the need to decentralize Nigeria’s security architecture to tackle the various security challenges the nation faces. Regarding the party’s internal dynamics, he dismissed the notion of factionalization within APGA, asserting that it remains a united, indivisible family. “Everything about politics is dynamism; and so, for APGA, we don’t lose sight of the fact that there can be issues, but the party will still thrive. What we have in APGA today is not fictionalization; what we have is an attempt by some people who are not members of APGA trying to hijack the party through the back door,” he said.
