In the light of her limited adaptive capabilities to deal with the consequences of climate change, Nigeria has been called upon to adopt collective actions to address the climate threats to human, business and ecosystems.
Prince Lekan Fadina
Executive Director, Centre for Investment, Sustainable Development, Management and Environment (CISME), Prince Lekan Fadina, who made the submission in Lagos on Monday, July 9, 2018 at the beginning of a two-day workshop for the review of the Draft Third National Communication (TNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), stated that such action should entail a collaboration involving the public and private sectors.
In a presentation titled: “Public Private Partnership for Climate Action in Nigeria”, Prince Fadina, while making a case for the role of the private sector, pointed out that the private sector accounts for 70% of all investments worldwide, even as 90% of people in developing countries depend on private sector, informal sector and small business.
“Adapting to the impacts of climate change is enormous challenge, and there is increasing number of private sector companies worldwide that are beginning to address climate change in their investments and business planning. They are turning the challenges to opportunities – green jobs, alternative energy, sustainable investments and low carbon industries,” said Fadina.
According to him, the global debate on climate finance has increasingly focused on the potential of the private sector to contribute to and/or leverage climate finance.
“At the outset discussion on the role of the private sector in finance was focused on mitigation to reduce the level of green house gases emission. Today, the private sector is increasingly relevant about the global adaptation debate,” he stated.
Fadina stressed that public and private sector organisations must see each other as partners in development, saying that there is need for trust, mutual confidence, understanding and appreciating each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We must strive for common vision and common objectives because the end-result is the prosperity of the Nigeria People,” he stressed, adding however that, to thrive and make sustainable investments, the private sector requires the existence of appropriate policy framework and an enabling environment.
While strengthening the partnership between government and business, and encouraging international co-operation on monitoring climate risks, Fadina recommended that national programmmes that entail investing in social preparedness measures, tackling inequality, bolstering IT infrastructure, education and innovation should be put in place.
His words: “The Continental Trade Treaty Agreement is in our doorsteps which makes Africa one market; our government and private sector should start to address the implications of this in our climate challenge and opportunities programmes.
“We believe that climate problem is real and all of us must act to respond, and we equally believe that the private sector can make a substantial contribution. It can help to solve but cannot solve all the problems, but it can make enough of a contribution that its worth pursuing.
“There is a need to set up a platform like the Talanoa Dialogue where government and private sector can have opportunities to share experience on climate issues and development. We should encourage participation and investment through public-private partnership in education, building capacity, creating awareness, invest in knowledge and research.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will meet in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from October 1 to 5, 2018 to consider the Special Report “Global Warming of 1.5ºC”. Subject to approval, the Summary for Policymakers will be released on Monday, October 8 with a live-streamed press conference that will be addressed by the IPCC Chair and Co-Chairs from the three IPCC Working Groups.
The opening session of the meeting will include statements by the Chair of the IPCC, senior officials the IPCC’s two parent bodies World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and senior officials of the Republic of Korea.
The report, whose full name is “Global Warming of 1.5°C, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty”, is being prepared under the scientific leadership of all three IPCC Working Groups.
Formally, the meeting will start with the 48th Session of the IPCC. Next, a joint session of the three Working Groups chaired by their Co-Chairs will consider the Summary for Policymakers line by line for approval. Then the 48th Session of the IPCC will resume to accept the Summary for Policymakers and overall report.
The IPCC decided to prepare the report, in response to an invitation from the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties at its 21st meeting in December 2015 when the Paris Agreement was signed.
The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the UN Environment and WMO in 1988 to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies. It has 195-member states.
IPCC assessments provide governments, at all levels, with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC assessments are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change. IPCC reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages, thus guaranteeing objectivity and transparency.
The IPCC assesses the thousands of scientific papers published each year to tell policymakers what we know and don’t know about the risks related to climate change. The IPCC identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community, where there are differences of opinion, and where further research is needed. It does not conduct its own research.
At its 41st Session in February 2015, the IPCC decided to produce a Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). At its 42nd Session in October 2015 it elected a new Bureau that would oversee the work on this report and Special Reports to be produced in the assessment cycle. At its 43rd Session in April 2016, it decided to produce three Special Reports, a Methodology Report and AR6.
Uganda has sent samples to the United States for further laboratory tests after a strange disease in the central region district of Mubende left eight people dead and 16 others hospitalised.
President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni
The Ministry of Health in a weekend statement said previous laboratory tests turned out negative for all known viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, Crimean Congo, Marburg and yellow fever.
The ministry turday said once the results from the U.S. are out, the public will be informed.
The ministry said with support from partners, it is taking measures to control the spread of the disease.
The ministry also said an isolation center has been established at Mubende Regional Hospital for containment and close monitoring of suspected cases. A surveillance team is also already in the field to do case search in communities and health facilities.
The ministry urged the public to report any suspected cases to the nearby health facility.
The symptoms of the disease include high fever, blood in vomit, acute headache and bloody diarrhea.
The strange disease was first reported on July 1 when the index case was registered. Since then, eight deaths have been recorded and 16 other people hospitalised.
Ten days of trail construction and maintenance doesn’t make you trail expert, but helps to shape your mind, body and soul to what trail construction entails. It gives you what is known by trail professionals as the “Trail Eyes”, a lens for picturing whether you are doing it the right way. Keeping water off the trail is one of the most important trail design elements and the use of water diversions is an effective way of achieving this.
Sahale Arm Mounts (North Cascades)
It has been proven over time that water on trails shortens the life of the trail and increases maintenance. Every trail expert will do anything possible to avert these gory incidents by maintaining the standard. These are thoughtful lessons we picked from Ben as he journeyed with us to the beautiful North Cascades region. Ben is that same environmental guru at EarthCorps that oversees environmental projects in its various forms.
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in the U.S. and Canada as the Cascade Mountains. The U.S. section of the North Cascades and the adjoining Skagit Range in British Columbia are most notable for their dramatic scenery and challenging mountaineering, both resulting from their steep, rugged topography.
We camped at the North Cascades National Park and drove 30 minutes to our place of primary assignment every day. Our task is to install Check Dams, do some brushing and clear drains on the pyramid lake trail. The last three days of the trip was lovely as we did some maintenance work (brushing and drainage) on Sahale Arm and Jack Mountain trail.
Check Dams or steps are usually put in place to stabilise trail segments that are being gutted by erosion. It’s a cross-tread barrier, made of a log (or laid rock) 6 to 8 inches in diameter buried at least 2/3 its diameter in the tread at a right angle to the trail. The Check Dam’s function is to slow water velocity enough to cause the water to deposit its load of soil and gravel behind the dam, thus maintaining the tread level.
Clearing and brushing, on the other hand, refers to the cutting and removal of all living and dead vegetation using 10 feet height and 4 feet on each side of the tread centerline standard. After keen observation and rigorous study, we started building the steps and ensured that we use our trail eyes to meet the standard. We were able to install 58 to 60 Check Dams, clear all drains and did half a mile brushing on pyramid lake trail.
The most gratifying aspect of this project was seeing hikers appreciating our work and giving feedback. Luk, the ranger in charge of the project really liked our work and remarked, “You are the best and most coordinated set of volunteers have ever worked with”. Luk is a man to see and work with if you are chanced to visit the North Cascades National Park. He is humane, simple and down-to-earth.
Adnane’s crew is one crew to beat when it comes to cooperation, commitment and paying attention to details. We always work hard and give in our very best to every project. We act like sisters and brothers without borders and put aside our differences to always achieve the desired goal. We really enjoyed the company of Jordan on the crew as we missed Abby and Gabi. Robyn, Emma, Gabi, and Abby are not just beautiful, but they all matched brain with beauty. The crew leader (Adnane) is a man of high intellect and fun to be with.
Our journey to the North Cascades created a window of opportunity to meeting amazing people and seeing beautiful sites. We will not forget so soon the other Youth Corps group that we shared space with at the park. It is true they are deaf and dumb, but their smartness and creativity are one to marvel at. They taught us different sign languages and showed us how life can be more meaningful if we put aside our differences. Truly, there is much ability in disability.
By Alabede Surajdeen (Environmental Restoration International Exchange Fellow at EarthCorps, Seattle, Washington, USA; @BabsSuraj; alabedekayode@gmail.com)
The development, deployment and transfer of locally relevant climate technologies remain the best solution to climate change challenges, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said.
Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo
The Office of the Vice-President said Osinbajo made the statement on Friday, August 3, 2018 at the inauguration of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) situated at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Lagos Business School.
Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, made Osinbajo’s view known in a statement on Saturday.
The Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre is a public-private partnership involving the Federal Government, the World Bank Group and the Pan-Atlantic University.
The Centre provides holistic, country-driven support to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of locally relevant climate and clean energy technologies.
Osinbajo said the task of advancing climate action was crucial, especially for Nigeria, in the view of the challenge of climate change and the need for the adoption of an innovative approach.
“The pressure for livelihoods and food for a huge population will put tremendous pressure on natural resources and the implications for climate change will be dire indeed.
“The creation of an enabling environment for climate-smart businesses to thrive is simply the only way to go,’’ he said.
Osinbajo said he had visited several start-ups, technology hubs and innovation spaces around the country and seen innovativeness, creativity and drive of Nigerians.
He said Nigerians were “constantly developing and deploying solutions in many sectors’’, including “agriculture, health, transport, security, climate action and many more locally relevant climate technologies’’.
According to him, one of the key sectors where there is potential for high impact interventions by green technologies is the off-grid solar sector.
Osinbajo said the Solar Home Project and Energising Economies Initiative were some of the private-sector-driven efforts targeted at providing off-grid power to homes, markets and economic clusters across the country.
He said that so far, 13,000 shops at Sabon-Gari Market in Kano were currently being powered through high-capacity stand-alone solar systems.
He said more were expected to come on stream soon at the Ariaria Market in Aba, Sura Market in Lagos, and other markets in Oyo, Edo and Ondo states.
The acting president challenged the new climate Centre to develop and deploy technology and expertise required to deliver clean energy in areas prone to oil pollution and other related hazards.
According to him, the innovation Centre must seek to develop the technology and expertise required to deal with the oil spill challenge in the Niger Delta region.
He said the Federal Government was investing considerably in Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to help overcome challenges and risks brought about by using kerosene and firewood in homes.
Osinbajo tasked the NCIC team to come up with innovation in smart cooking equipment that could utilise LPG in the most efficient manner.
The acting president urged stakeholders in the off-grid power sector to take advantage of the Green Bond issued by the Federal Government and the opportunities provided at the newly inaugurated climate Centre to fund their projects.
“It provides a platform to attracting or unlocking venture financing and private equity funds for climate-smart businesses and Nigerians providing climate-smart solutions,’’ Osinbajo said.
The Irepodun Local Government Authority in Kwara State on Sunday, August 5, 2018 expressed concern on the dangers associated with indiscriminate dumping of waste in public places on human and the environment.
Waste disposal and management have posed a major challenge to authorities in major cities in Nigeria
Mrs Mary Abejide, Head, Environmental Unit at the council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran that the sad development was posing great risk to the remote villages and communities in the area.
She said that the menace which had assumed an alarming proportion was putting extra pressure on the local authority’s efforts toward ensuring a clean and healthy environment.
Abejide said that some nursing mothers and women had formed the habit of indiscriminate dumping of baby nappies and menstrual pads in gutters, sewage and other public outlets.
She also blamed operators of hospitals and clinics for lacking proper waste disposal measures, thereby putting the lives of the residents in danger.
According to her, such ugly trend negates the government’s policy on Safe and Clean Environment.
Abejide said that the development accounted for some of the streets within the metropolis being overtaken and littered with used water plastics, dirt and other waste materials.
She listed some of the effects of indiscriminate dumping of waste to include outbreak of communicable diseases, air and environmental pollution as well as blockage of drainage and flooding.
Abejide, however expressed satisfaction with the recently-concluded environmental sensitisation, organised by the council, saying the cooperation of the stakeholders had helped the department in meeting its target populace.
She said the act of keeping the environment clean was no more limited to the government, calling for a Public Private Partnership in ensuring a safe and clean environment.
“We cannot continue to wait for government before contributing our quota as responsible citizens to make our environment safe and conducive for living.
“It is the duty of every individual and organisation to ensure maintenance of a safe and clean environment at all times to prevent unwarranted health hazards,’’ Abejide said.
The greatest global challenge today, especially in Africa is how to make our food more sustainable by 2050. In Nigeria, as in many other African countries, food security and nutrition remain a critical challenge. Production constraints like inversion of insects/pests and diseases, inadequate rainfall and poor quality of agricultural input are some of the major contributors to low agricultural output. Despite the clear link between agricultural productivity and malnourishment, there were uncertainty and confusion in many of government responses to a wide range of agricultural, health, social, economic and environmental issues associated with the application and regulation of modern biotechnology in agricultural practice. Thus, many African countries were reluctant to approve the use of genetically engineered (GE) crops as their governments are juxtaposed between the opponents and proponents of the technology.
Varieties of the Bacillus thuringiensis cotton (Bt. Cotton) on display
In the third decade of the launch of modern biotechnology came a new era for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria as she commercialises some of its GMO products in line with global standards. On Thursday, July 26, 2018, the National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crops, Livestock/Fisheries varieties at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) released and registered some biotechnological improved varieties at its 26th meeting at Moorplantion, Ibadan, Nigeria.
The newly released and registered products include; two transgenic hybrid cotton; MRC 7377 BG11 and MRC 7361 BG11 with outstanding qualities of high yield of 4.4 and 4.1 respectively per hectare and resistance ability to diseases. They were developed by Mahyco Nigeria Pvt. Limited in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The chairman of the committee, Chief Awoyemi said that the Bacillus thuringiensis cottons (Bt. Cotton) were released and registered as an approved improved variety for the use of farmers as it has been tested not injurious to both human and animals. Chief Awoyemi remarked that the release and registration of GM cotton is revolutionary to the agricultural development of the country as it would lead to the future adoption of the GM technology in Nigeria food crops.
This is the first ever officially approved GMO product in Nigeria for use by farmers and Nigerians are delighted as the world celebrates Nigeria’s entrant as the 14th cotton grower nation of the globe like India, Mexico, Pakistan, Australia, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Myanmar, South Africa, USA, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Nigeria is now the 7th African country to commercialise GMO products after South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Malawi.
Also released and registered in the livestock sub-sector is the FUNAAB Alpha chicken with principal breeders including Prof. (Mrs) O. A. Adebanbo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. It was approved based on its ability to adaptability to the production environment of local rural farmers with performance characteristics of body weight, live weight at the end of lay, high egg lay and weight which surpass those of the existing Nigerian local chicken. Others that are released and registered are listed as follows – one Soybean variety (SC-SL01), five maize hybrids (P4226, P3966, P4063, WE3205 and DKB350), three groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 27, SAMNUT 28 and SAMNUT 29), two maize varieties (AMANA-1 and AMANA-2), one sweet potato variety (Solo gold), three Sorghum varieties (SAMSORG 47, 48, 49), and two Cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 18, 19).
In her remarks, Dr Rose Gidado, the country representative of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria, expressed confidence in the adaptation of biotechnology. She said that the development signals better things to come in agricultural sector and stressed that it would fast track development of commercial farming in Nigeria especially in the textile industry. The acting Director General/CEO of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Alex Akpa, at a press conference on Friday, July 27, 2018, in Abuja, said that this official registration of these biotechnological products marked their entry into the nation’s agricultural system.
Recall that the government of Nigeria recognised biotechnology as a reliable technology for sustainability in agricultural practices and capable of delivering economic, social and environmental benefits. About two decades ago, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the National Biotechnology Policy on April 2001 and later in November 2001 established the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), for its implementation. FEC also approved the Biosafety guidelines same 2001, to enhance research and development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and the regulation of the modern biotechnology in the country. The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) was eventually established in April 2014 and saddled with the responsibility of implementing biosafety regulations.
Despite government disposition to explore the gains of biotechnology in national development, various social and political considerations led to unjustified delays in the approval process of these crops, resulting in the bizarre situation where technologies that increase consumer and producer surplus fail to reach the market. The anti-GMO activists turned scientific issues into moral, cultural and ideological debates; systematically manipulating science and creating alternative facts to distort science to create fears and despondency on the perceived health and environmental risks of modern biotechnology. They held tenaciously to the belief that our agricultural and food systems are compromised and corrupted and were ardently committed to forging erroneous notion and pedalled unscrupulous concerns and perceptions to imperil acceptability.
Contrary to their anticipation, advances in science have accelerated development for decades, including the application of biotechnology in agriculture, to improve overall livelihood, productivity and food security. For about three decades, biotechnology have been globally offered as alternative to address the onslaught of pests and diseases, the vagaries of weather and other challenges to growing crops and breeding livestock, because of its higher economic and yield benefits and dramatic reduction in pesticide use. Several new crops have been developed to address important traits of relevance to smallholder farmers in through genetic modifications by our Nigeria Scientists like their global counterparts.
The truth is that our primitive agricultural practices are facing various challenges and from global experiences, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) hold the key to overcoming these challenges. Government appreciates the fact that STI are contributing effectively to improve the value chain in the global food system especially in emerging economies like Nigeria.
In his remarks during the OFAB Nigeria Media Award on August 1, 2018, Mr Bitrus Bako Nabasu, who represented the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, stated: ‘’The Federal Government has recognised that, globally, STI are shaping development and the way people think and act, hence the recent decision to increase funding for research and development in the country. As a country, we must encourage our Scientist to continue to work for the good of the country and the people.
‘’Government has demonstrated its determination to make STI the hub on which the wheel of development revolves. The establishment of the NABDA over two decades ago to prepare the ground for the deployment of modern biotechnology in all sectors of the economy; health, environment, industry, agriculture is a testimony of government’s deliberate efforts to use STI to boost food production, ensure affordable healthcare delivery system, make available industrial raw materials and establish a sustainable environment in the country. These institutes must be encouraged to carry out their mandates to ensure that the country attains food sufficiency in food production,” he added.
As the support for modern biotechnology continues to grow, it is being mainstreamed gradually to add value into the country’s agricultural sub-sector. Dr. Ebegba of NBMA has severally said that the country is ripe for commercialisation of safe Genetically Modified (GM) products. “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016” demonstrated the long-standing benefits of biotech crops for farmers in developing and industrialised countries, as well as consumer benefits of approved and commercialised varieties. We should therefore realise that the eras of distractions are gone, and Nigeria has been liberated from isolation from Science. Our joy is that at last, Science Prevailed and we shall ensure that it excels beyond the 25-year-old biotechnological modifications.
By Edel-Quinn Agbaegbu (Executive Director of Every Woman Hope Centre (EWHC), an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation, and Secretary of National Biosafety and Biotechnology Consortium (NBBC))
An environmentalist, Mr David Michael, on Sunday, August 5, 2018 urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in increasing the production and supply of renewable energy in the country.
Rooftop solar power
Michael, who is also an Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that renewable energy would replace carbon-intensive energy sources and significantly reduce emissions.
According to him, renewable energy is an alternative source of energy that is free of carbon emission.
He enjoined Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders to explore many positive impacts of clean energy, including the benefits of wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric and biomass.
“These renewable energy sources can address many carbon emissions such as greenhouse gases that trap heat and make the planet warmer.
“Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years.
“The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
“Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation primarily come from burning fossil fuel for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes,” he said.
The environmentalist said that over 90 per cent of the fuel used for transportation was petroleum-based, including gasoline and diesel.
“Human activity is overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions.
“These gases act like a blanket, trapping heat. The result is a web of significant and harmful impacts, from stronger, more frequent storms to drought, sea level rise, and extinction.
“In contrast, most renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions; life cycle emissions of clean energy are minimal.”
An Agriculture Extension Officer, Mr Joseph Aboyeji, has advised farmers in the country to embrace dry season farming as a way of improving production and increase their income.
Farmers
Aboyeji gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Sunday, August 5, 2018.
He also said that dry season farming would promote all-year round farming, reduce poverty and food insufficiency.
Aboyeji said the Federal Government Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) was a veritable platform to achieve success, regarding dry season farming.
He noted that with GES, the envisaged increase in production and income of farmers would be achieved, adding that beneficiaries under the scheme would have unhindered access to highly subsidised farm inputs.
Aboyeji, however, called on the Federal Government to exhibit strong political will and accord top priority to promoting dry season farming.
The agriculturalist said that potential dry season farmers required adequate fund to achieve all-year round farming.
According to him, the late and inadequate rainfall being experienced since the beginning of the year had posed serious challenges to farmers in meeting up with their food production target.
Aboyeji, who noted that dry season farming was capital intensive, called for more adequate budgetary allocation for the sector to reduce poverty and unemployment.
The agriculturalist said the decline in the global crude oil price should be enough reason for the authority to give the sector the necessary attention.
“I think it is time for the Federal Government to increase its budget provision for agriculture, especially dry season farming.
“There are lots of expectations from all tiers of government to turn around the socio-economic fortune of the country by utilising our God-given land and natural resources for our own benefit.
“With increase in production of crops like rice, wheat, sorghum and vegetables, this will go a long way to complement the wet season harvest and output in meeting up with the desired target.
“Dry season farming, if well planned and implemented, would allow for all-year round farming and is capable of solving the nation poverty and food insufficiency,” Aboyeji said.
He also called for the provision of modern storage facilities and markets to assist farmers actualise their high production target and income.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of an agency on robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) for the southeast.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology
Onu revealed this at a grand rally of the All Progressives Congress in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State. The rally which received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, was attended by the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
Some of the defectors who were received include, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, former Minister of Power and Steel, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, former Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odoh and former attorney general and commissioner for justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu.
Onu told the rally that in 2015 he pleaded with southeast not to put its eggs in one basket, but his pleadings fell on deaf ears.
“In 2015 I pleaded with the zone not to put our eggs in one basket. Today I want them to compare the 16 years of PDP and relate it with just three years of APC.
“The three years of APC is greater than the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the second Niger bridge is nearing completion, the Enugu-Port-Harcourt and Enugu-Onitsha highways are in various levels of completion,” he said.
“The time has come for the southeast to be in the mainstream of Nigerian politics by voting for President Buhari and APC in 2019”.
APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole said that the current security challenge in the country was devoid of religious or ethnic colouration.
Oshiomhole therefore urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be deceived by the antics of selfish politicians in the country who are trying to give the security challenges in the country an ethnic colouration to score cheap political points.
According to Oshiomhole, there is a plot to paint the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in bad light by portraying all the killings in some states in the country as the handiwork of herdsmen.
“Let me urge you to be more careful because in this season people are spreading untruth. People are being hired to turn the gospel upside down. They want us to believe that every problem should be explained in ethnic and religious terms.
“We have a problem and we must confront those problems. Criminals must be dealt with individually as criminals. Government at all levels must work hard to protect every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion, ” he said.
He said Buhari and the security agencies are working hard to put an end to the security challenges facing the country.
Oshiomhole urged the people of the southeast to vote for APC and President Buhari in the 2019 general election as he has delivered democracy dividends to the zone.
” If Buhari has remembered the southeast which did not give him more than 10 percent in 2015, imagine what he will do if you give him 85 per cent in 2019″.
Former Governor of Abịa State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the new River Niger bridge, which the PDP could not construct in 16 years, has now reached 53 per cent completion.
According to him, the southeast will give the President and APC majority of its votes in 2019 in appreciation for all the projects and democracy dividends he has given the zone.
The rally earlier scheduled to hold at the Pa Oruta Ngele Stadium Abakaliki was later moved to a a playground near the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway following the refusal of the state government to grant the APC permission to use the stadium.
