TheCable

Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the house of representatives, says the desire for genuine change made him defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the  ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking on Wednesday during the extraordinary national convention of APC, which held at the old parade ground in Abuja, Tambuwal expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their support, promising that he would continue to work for the development of the country.

He expressed assurance that his new party would improved the country and urged the people to support APC.

“It is an honour and privilege to join you members of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, at this convention,” he said.

“I embraced the APC platform for genuine change.

“I am truly proud to be part of the APC family. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of goodwill and welcome that I have received from members of this party and other Nigerians since the formal notification of my membership of APC.

“From the depth of my heart I say thank you to all.”

Claiming that APC is capable of transforming the country, Tambuwal called on more people to join the party.

He promised to contribute his best towards the development of the party

“The programmes of APC are very attractive and would bring about radical changes in the way we do business in Nigeria,” he said.

“APC has been giving Nigerians hope. The party has the progressive ideals of good governance to which I subscribe and wholeheartedly embrace. I have embraced the APC platform as a veritable instrument for genuine change and enduring national development.

“We must constantly remind ourselves that Nigerians are yearning for true change and APC represents the hope for this change and a promise of a brighter Nigeria.

“This is a party that we believe that by the grace of God, come 2015, shall deliver this country from the evil that it has been plunged into by a certain cabal.

“I hereby dedicate myself to the task of building and growing our great party and helping our party achieve its vision of lifting Nigeria to a glorious height and restoring hope to the citizens of our great country. In this regard, I hereby call on other Nigerians to join this movement to deliver on the promise on a new Nigeria.

“In the weeks ahead, we will engage party men and women and Nigerians on the future direction of our nation and means of rescuing it from the malaise of youth unemployment, insecurity, institutionalized corruption, poverty, social economy decline and infrastructural decay.”

John Oyegun, national chairman of the party, presented all those seeking to contest the presidential election on the platform of APC, at the gathering.

He charged them to work in unity and support whoever emerges the presidential candidate at the party presidential primaries slated for December 2.

Apart from Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president and presidential aspirant, other presidential candidates of APC were at the occasion.

They are Muhammadu Buhari, a former head of state; Rabiu Kwankwaso, governor of Kano state; Sam Nda-Isaiah, publisher of Leadership newspaper; and Rochas Okorocha; governor of Imo state.

Governors of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos also graced the occasion, as did former governors of Ekiti, former speaker of Lagos state house of assembly, and past and present members of both chambers of the national assembly.

At the convention, APC approved amendments to its constitution and adopted its manifesto for the 2015 general election.