REMARKS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS CONVENTION AT THE EAGLES SQUARE, ABUJA ON SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH, 2022
PROTOCOLS
Eight years ago, the founding fathers of our party, the All Progressives Congress, led by our President, President Muhammadu Buhari, all coming then from the backwaters of the opposition agreed to form a party whose credo would be the welfare of the people of Nigeria. They agreed that we would keep our focus on the greatest happiness of the greatest number of our people. They affirmed that the reason for governments’ existence is to ensure the provision of the means and the environment for all to prosper and live in peace. They decided that we would rise above ethnicity, above religion and other parochial considerations in the design and implementation of policies and in the choice of the men and women who would be appointed or elected to serve.
Mr. President wrapped these principles into three major concerns; security, the economy and the fight against corruption.
Eight years on, the government of our party and the Nigerian people have embarked on the largest investment in infrastructure in our history; investments in rail, roads, in power and broadband connectivity. We have birthed an irreversible agricultural revolution, investing more in agriculture than any previous government in the history of our nation. We have established the largest social investment programme in Sub-Saharan Africa, feeding 9.5 children daily in our home-grown school feeding programme, over 4 million beneficiaries of our Government Empowerment and Enterprise Programme; the MarketMoni, TraderMoni, & FarmerMoni.
Our private sector has, despite constraints, continued to do wonders. Only a few days ago, Mr. President commissioned the largest fertilizer plant in Africa and one of the largest fertilizer plants in the world. And in a few months, the largest single line refinery in the world will become operational under this government and in this nation.
Since 2015 in the technology sector, our young men and women have established world class companies. Today Nigeria can boast of 6 unicorns – tech companies valued at over 1 billion dollars each.
Of course, it has not been a smooth journey; it couldn’t possibly be. The years of building are always difficult, and sometimes, painful. The building of a great edifice requires deep roots into the ground and a foundation as deep sometimes into the ground as the grand edifice that it will support. We cannot deny the difficulties we as a party, and the government, and indeed our people have been through. Even in the past two years, the COVID pandemic has worsened our economic circumstances. And we have had to tackle terrorist activities, insurgency and security challenges in parts of the country.
But our people have remained steadfast, resilient and determined to see the Nigeria of our dreams. And our government has remained steadfast also, determined, committed and focused.
So, to you members of our great party, in the coming months and years, we must remain resolute and committed and focused on the vision of Mr. President to deliver on the economy, security for all and the fight against corruption. Our eyes must remain fixed on three things: One – jobs. Two- jobs & Three- Jobs. We must focus on the objective of taking 100 million out of poverty in this decade, as promised by this government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
We will actualise the pledge of universal health coverage for all. We will continue undaunted in the task of building infrastructure that will be the foundation of the great modern economy of our dreams. We will continue in the task of building a strong, united, fair and just Nigeria; a Nigeria where every young man and woman can find opportunities to work, and prosper. And we will not relent; we will not look back and we will not falter. And by the grace of God, this party, our party, the All Progressives Congress will in the coming decades lead Nigeria and its great peoples to its manifest destiny.
Before I take my seat, I want to specially congratulate all members of the All Progressives Congress. This is a party that was forged from the opposition. A party that came from disparate people and ideas, all from the opposition. But some men sat together and decided to form this party. And I want to mention their names, just so that we can congratulate them and commend them specially. Beginning with the leader of that group, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose vision, direction brought about that merger that became known as the APC; Chief Bisi Akande, His Excellency former governor of Osun State; Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader; His Excellency, Aliyu Wammako, former governor of Sokoto State; His Excellency, Nasir El-Rufai, present governor of Kaduna State; His Excellency, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, also a former governor; and His Excellency, Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State.
These men, amongst others, sat together to craft what is known today as the All Progressives Congress, Africa’s largest political party and will be Africa’s most successful political party.
May God continue to bless the All Progressives Congress, and may God bless the Federal republic of Nigeria.
Thank you very much.
