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Tag: All Progressives Congress

  • Osun governorship aspirant promises to industrialize the state

    An Osun State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Engr. Ayoade Afolabi Lawal, to industrialize the state if elected into office.

    Addressing his teeming supporters at his declaration to run for the office of the governor at the party secretariat along Gbongan road, Lawal promised to continue from where the Rauf Aregbesola administration had stopped.

    He also pledged to priotize youth empowerment and provide necessary support for the vulnerable, including women, children and the aged.

    Lawal, a chemical engineer and business mogul,  commended Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for laying a solid foundation for the incoming administration to build upon.

    According to him, Osun State has experienced significant  infrastructural development in the last eight years, saying  Aregbesola’s administration  must be commended for rapid infrastructure development in education,  health and road .

    He said: “But for all-round sustainable development, industrial development should take precedence henceforth. This is the way to complement what has been achieved and to deepen the recent gains of democratic governance.

    Read Also: Osun aspirant to match Ambode’s performance

    “My administration shall create value chain industrialization that will be all inclusive and no son and daughter of Osun will be left out in the scheme. As we are promoting small and medium scale busineses across the nooks and crannies of the state, our government will also work hard toward attracting foreign investors into the state.

    “I want use this medium to commend our amiable Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for his unprecedented development in the state within the state of seven and half years and I promise to build on his legacies if I emerge victorious in the coming election.

    “I will make sure I develop  the state  through agriculture, creation of industries in each of the local government areas of the state, Agriculture, Education, industrialisation,  free and quality Health care delivery,  security of life and properties, employment opportunity, increasing youths capability through sporting activities and improvement of tourist centres across the state.”

    Lawal also promised to empower the youths and generate mass employment through improvement on the standard of living of the residents of the state.

    He promised to liberate the people of the state from the shackles of poverty by providing standard education that will expose them especially the youths to inherent opportunities in the state.

    He assured to create more jobs through tourism by showcasing the inherent beauty of various tourist attraction in the state.

    Lawal, therefore, called on all members of the party to give him their support and ensure that he succeed Ogbeni Aregbesola to continue the good work he has done.

    Speaking, the State Chairman of the party, Gboyega Famodun, described the governorship hopeful as a courageous  and competent engineer.

    He assured that Lawal as a young man would  potray the youth in a good light if elected as governor of the state.

    Famodun promised all the aspirants a level playing ground, as well as a primary devoid of malpractice. END

  • Ekiti PDP lawmaker joins APC

    The gale of defection hitting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has spread to the House of Assembly as the lawmaker representing Ise/Orun Constituency, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Alagbada is the House Deputy Leader and Lands and Housing Committee Chairman.

    Announcing his defection to the APC at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Alagbada said the people of his constituency are in support of his decision to dump the PDP.

    Alagbada explained that APC represents a better platform to give the people of his constituency a better and effective representation.

    The legislator who also announced his resignation as the House Deputy Leader of the Assembly said he was moving to APC.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti

    He also said the people of Ise/Orun are aggrieved that Governor Ayo Fayose reneged on his promise to cede the governorship slot to the zone in 2018.

    Alagbada said: “I’m aware and it is an historical fact that during the 2014 PDP primary, Governor Ayo Fayose promised my constituency, Ise Orun, the governorship after his tenure.

    “We were therefore very hopeful when two of our illustrious sons, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi camevout to show interests to contest for the PDP gubernatorial candidate.

    “My constituency was therefore shocked and surprised when non of the two aspirants from my constituency was found worthy of support by the governor.

    “Not only did he disdain them but worked ruthlessly to ensure their manipulation out as candidate of the PDP in preference for the Deputy Governor, Prof Kokapo Olusola who was no where when we risked everything to ensure the victory of the governor both at the primary and General Election.

    “Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi have since left in protest to join the APC. My constituency too who elected me into the House of Assembly are also aggrieved and have directed me to follow suit with my leaders.

    “Consequently, in accordance with the directive of the good people of Ise/Orun constituency of Ekiti State House of Assembly, I hereby resign as the Deputy Majority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly and my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party due to irreconcilable breaking into factions of the PDP in Ekiti state following the rancorous gubernatorial primary.

    “I also use this opportunity to announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress forthwith.”

    The PDP had earlier lost the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, to the APC.

  • Kwara: PDP governorship aspirant laments disunity of the party

    A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara state, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia has lamented over existing internal division, wrangling and acrimony in the party in the state.

    He warned that the current seemingly irreconcilable differences in PDP in the state would allow the party secure victory over the formidable ruling  All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections.

    Ajia said this in Ilorin yesterday at an event to commemorate Sallah celebration where he distributed bags of rice and souvenirs to party faithful across the 16 Local Government areas of the state.

    The PDP gubernatorial aspirant noted that there was no way the party could embark on a war fragmented and expect to defeat the ruling party.

    He challenged party chairmen in local government areas to reconcile aggrieved members and work with unity of purpose and sense of direction.

    Read Also: 2019: Obtain your PVCs now, Gov. Ahmed tells Kwarans

    Ajia also called on party faithful to work as a team ahead of the primary elections and ensure that the best candidate emerged to fly the flag of the party in the polls.

    Said he: “I urge you all, let us know that the unity of this party is the first thing that can give us victory. For those of you who are enjoying peace in your own local governments, you need to tell others and teach them how you have done it so that when we have a one party we can face the war. You can’t go to a war with a divided house. This thing is giving me a lot of concern.

    “I think the elders are ready now; they have shown concern that they want this party to be united. So, party chairmen across local governments, the time is now to work together. Let us kick start.

    “From now on, everybody will take a responsibility. Let us be talking on how we can make sure that we have a successful primary election and a united political party to face the problem of the state.

    “The war before us is not a small war, and here again, we are fragmented. So, this is the thing that gives me concern from time to time. Let us go into partnership, let us sign a social contract, so that we can have a new Kwara, where a son of nobody can become somebody, where you don’t need to know somebody before you can buy forms and say you want to represent your people anywhere. This is the Kwara of my dream.

    “A Kwara where a local government chairman can live in his local government headquarters, a Kwara where a commissioner on Friday will be eager to close from work and go back to his local government.

    “It is time for us to tidy up our trousers. We need to put politics aside. We need to identify the potentials in all the individuals that are out.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti for mega rally

    … Fayemi takes campaign to more communities

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega  rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Meanwhile, Fayemi on Monday took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed.”

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of PDP where the visits kicked off Monday, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to APC while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving APC headaches that defected to APC in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Read Also: Fayemi is the reason Ekiti is under financial burden – PDP

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose, promising to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that
    Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • Fayemi possesses democratic credentials to lead Ekiti – Group

    An interest group, Ekiti Recovery Movement (ERM) has canvassed support for the candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The group said Fayemi possesses the democratic credentials to lead Ekiti again having been part of eminent Nigerians who fought for the revalidation of June 12, 1993 presidential election result.

    The ERM in a statement by its Coordinator, Lekan Soyombo and Secretary, Femi Osabinu, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring the memory of the winner of the election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola and declaring June 12 as the Democracy Day.

    The body also lauded the contributions of the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, the late Chief Bola Ige, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, the late Chief Olanihun Ajayi, the late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Mr. Ayo Opadokun to the June 12 struggle.

    Read Also: Fayemi hails President for honouring Abiola

    The ERM stressed that the July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti State offers the electorate another opportunity to give Fayemi, whom he said understand the ideals of democracy, the mandate to assume the reins of governance.

    The statement said: “This year anniversary in its peculiarity, signaled to us another privilege to reorder our system to allow a pro-democracy like Dr Kayode Fayemi be in charge of affairs of government in Ekiti State as July 14 approaches.

    “We implore the Ekiti people to use sound measure and quality calculative indices to make their choice through ballot and disregard unbridled adventures of Governor Ayo Fayose. That Fayemi is enlisted amongst the many distinguished patriots and heroes of this Year June 12 awards events in Abuja, is an eloquent testimony that he has paid his price and borne out errand for progress with commendable constancy.

    “He is the only candidate and the only close ally who had in the past years participated and understood the tenet of participatory democracy, who have also acquired the wherewithal and possessed the technical know-how to lead the people of Ekiti State to the Promised Land.

    “Affairs of a state is such a serious business that should not be committed into the hands of jesters and strangers who has no single history of patriotism other than comical opportunism.

    “We are challenged to come out as a progressive team, poised with the radical need to rescue Ekiti from the snare of the selfish, greedy and uncompassionate individuals who maneuvered their ways to power as a result of hitch that characterized our electoral system.”

  • ‘Okorocha does not determine what happens in Imo APC’

    Imo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been engulfed in crisis after the state congress. While the party’s National Working Committee, led by the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, inaugurated Dr. Hillary Eke as the State Chairman, a faction in the state dismissed the National Working Committee’s action as null and void and elected the former Vice Chairman of Owerri Zone, Mr. Chris Oguoma, as the Acting Chairman. In this interview with Correspondent Okodili Ndidi, Oguama insisted that Eke has been suspended and that no congress was held in the state, among other issues. Excerpts

    HOW did you emerge as the acting chairman of the party when there was a court order that status quo should remain?

    My emergence as the Party’s Acting chairman followed all due processes known to law and especially, the Constitution of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). After several invitations had been extended to the suspended Party Chairman (Hillary Eke) and three other officers to come forward with reasons why disciplinary action as stipulated in the Constitution of our Party should not be taken against them failed, more than two third majority of the party’s State Working Committee sat and passed a vote of no confidence on the erring members who include, Dr. Hilary Ekeh, Deputy Chairman of the Party, Mr. Ugochukwu Nzekwe, Organising Secretary, Mr. Clement Anozie and Publicity Secretary, Engr. Ndubueze Oguchienti.

    Their suspension was adequately communicated to the relevant organs of the party, including the National Working Committee. With this suspension, it automatically behooves on me, as the Zonal Chairman of the party for Owerri Zone, to take over as the State Chairman in acting capacity. So, the issue of the party in Imo State being disobedient to court orders does not arise.

    What is your reaction on the controversies trailing the congresses in the state and subsequent swearing in of Dr. Hilary Ekeh as the State Chairman of the party?

    There was no congress in Imo State. Congresses are not conducted in hiding or in a hurry. It is supposed to be a very open process, where everyone, not just party members, can come out and say, this is what happened. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police and other security agencies and journalists are supposed to observe and monitor the process, but this didn’t happen.

    The Ward Congresses of the party, which was supposed to give birth to all the other congresses, were botched.

    The Hilary Ekeh you said was sworn-in, where is his office? Where is his secretariat? They cannot claim that anybody is harassing them. If they are sure that they are doing what is right and their actions are within the law, then, they should not be hiding like common criminals or juvenile gangsters. They should carry out their actions in the open, like various chapters of our party are doing. Congresses, inauguration and all such things are big occasions and people should know about it when it is happening.

    But there is report that they are being harassed?

    They cannot claim that they are being harassed. Nobody is harassing any law abiding citizen. If you are doing what is right within the law, you should not be afraid because the governor has sworn to uphold the law of the land and defend the Constitution and that is what he is doing. PDP, APGA, SDP and all the other opposition parties have their party secretariats in the state and nobody is harassing them. If nothing else, the administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha is renowned for its tolerance and accommodation of opposition and that is the character of our party. This party does not believe in muscling opposition because we were an opposition party, yet, it will be the height of irresponsibility for the government to look on, while any form of illegality is being perpetrated by any group or individual, no matter how highly placed.

    Is it true that the State Working Committee which you chair owes its allegiance to the state governor alone?

    Governor Rochas Okorocha is the leader of the party in the state and of course in the entire Southeast. Anyone who tells you otherwise is simply being mischievous. These people from other Southeast states had the opportunity to produce APC governors in their own states, but they couldn’t because they are not popular among their people. When Governor Okorocha took up this party and began to market it in this part of the country, he was insulted and given all kinds of aliases by the same people who are today running from one office in Abuja to the other trying to hijack the same party.

    Okorocha has portrayed the image of our party well before the people. The people of Imo State love the APC because of Okorocha and they will vote for the APC over and over again and that is why those people are desperate to hijack the party, because Governor Okorocha has done so well that getting the ticket of the party is as good as winning the main election. If the governor hasn’t done well, these people won’t be running around wanting to be part of the party.

    As a party, we support the governor and we are proud of him because he has represented the party well with the mandate given to him on behalf of the party. However, the governor does not determine what happens in the party. The party is run differently from the state and if we need the assistance or advice of the governor in anything, we will go to him and seek his advice. That does not mean that he controls the party.

    Has the party endorsed Uche Nwosu as its governorship candidate?

    Uche Nwosu is a member of the party; he is an adult, he is not an ex-convict, and neither is he a lunatic. There is nothing that disqualifies him from contesting for and emerging the governor of Imo State. Instead, that young man possesses attributes any political party will be proud that he is associating with them. We are proud of his achievements, his commitment to the party is awesome and I think he enjoys massive goodwill from the people of Imo State. But he won’t emerge as an automatic candidate of our party. He is eligible, just like many other aspirants who have declared interest to vie for the governorship under our party’s platform. When the time comes, all of them will go through the processes and anybody who emerges will be assured of the party’s full support in the general election.

    Can you tell us about the Imo APC coalition?

    There is nothing like that in Imo State. There cannot be an authority, on top of another authority. We have one APC in Imo State and every other interest within the APC must subsume itself into the party and if any group of people feels they have become more powerful than the party or that they have the clout to win elections without the party, then, it is a problem.

    What is the current relationship between the state chapter of the party and the national leadership?

    There is no problem at all. I may not like how the National Chairman and some other national officers of the party had handled issues concerning the party in Imo State and other parts of the country, but they remain our officials till they are removed from the party. If there is any need, I shall communicate with my national chairman and other national officers of the party without hindrance. As long as the overriding interest of the party is concerned, I will cooperate with the party leadership and other members of the NWC, at least till the 25th of this month when most of them are expected to vacate office.

    Let me however state it clearly that the National Chairman of the party failed woefully, especially, on the issue of party administration and ensuring that every member of the party is adequately carried along.

  • ‘Only Allah can install Aregbesola successor’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State and Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Bola Oyebamiji, has advised aspirants of the APC in September 22 gubernatorial election in the state to work together and shun any activities capable of causing crisis within the party.

    Addressing Muslim faithfuls at a lecture organized by a sociopolitical organization, Team Support Group of Bola Oyebamiji at Ansarudeen Secondary school playground in Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government Area of the state, he said only Allah could install the person to succeed Governor Rauf Aregebsola.

    Oyebamiji said the only way to sustain the good legacy of Aregbesola was for the aspirants under the banner of the APC to embrace one and other so as to be able to defeat the opposition parties.

    He said: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all the aspirants contesting for the coming gubernatorial election on the platform of the APC to please abide by the rules and guidelines of the party. We should eschew hate speeches and activities capable of truncating the peaceful coexistence among the party members.

    “Aregbesola has transformed the state within the space of seven and half years. He has performed excellently. He achieved and he is still achieving what no past governor had achieved in the history of this state. So, the only way to appreciate this is to allow the candidate who understand him and ready to build on his legacies succeed him.

    Read Also: ‘Aregbesola didn’t spend N4.6b on trailer parks’

    “Please let us play responsible politics.Let us work together and show ourselves as worthy ambassadors of the party who the masses, especially our supporters, can look up to. There will be only one victor in the party primary. The game is not one in which the winner takes all. So, if you are not the victor in that exercise, there are abundant possibilities left to compensate everybody.”

    Oyebamiji enjoined the aspirants not to conduct themselves in a way that will embarrass the party or pose danger to the survival of the party in the state.

    The Ikire born politician demanded the aspirants’ cooperation, saying they should support whosoever emerges the party’s candidate at the end of the primary.

    He urged them to work in unity for the realisation of the ambition of the party to produce the next governor so as to continue where Aregbesola would stop, calling on aspirants to follow the path of peace and ensure that the party wins the next election.

    In his lecture, the Chief Imam Gbigba Adura Mosque, Ogijo Lagos, Alhaji Imam Muzif Olajide Akintaro, charged the Muslims faithful to get involved in the political process toward contributing to the nation building.

    Imam Akintaro commended Governor Aregbesola for giving Osun an esthetic look, saying Aregbesola has set a pace which others should build on.

    Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ganiyu Oyeladun, appreciated the Muslims faithful who deemed it necessary to attend the programme.

  • I am not a dictator – Oshiomhole

    An aspirant for the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said that he is not a dictator as being expressed in some quarters.

    Comrade Oshiomhole who is the immediate past governor of Edo State, exoaliend that he got the support of APC governors and other party leaders across the country because they understand the type of person he is.

    Oshiomhole who reiterated his loyalty to the party said he would exercise his persuasive powers and negotiating skilling in resolving the crisis in the party.

    The former Edo Governor who spoke in an interview with newsmen said majority of the party leaders supporting his aspiration believed he would improve the fortunes of the APC.

    Comrade Oshiomhole said he has never exercised dictatorial powers but persuasive powers and negotiating skills.

    Read Also: ‘Support Oshiomole as APC national chair’

    According to him, “If I have prominent people from the North, prominent people from the South, East and West it means I will be the center. No one will say if not for my support you would not have been there. If you are a product of one section then you might remain detained by that section if you feel that to return that office you must service that section because it is your support base. But when you have the privilege of a broad support, from many leaders then no one leader will say I put you there you must listen to me.

    “But let me also say is that what is also qualitatively different about this support is that there is no question about what is influencing this support because conventionally in our political environment, we hear that those who has the deepest pocket tends to buy the support. But these support is being offered from people who cannot be procured which tells you it is flowing from the knowledge of my person.

    “Because I have been fortunate to work with all the governors, including past governors. Those I did not meet in office I met them when I was President of the NLC, we had engaged on one to one so they know what I stand for. So they offered this support based on their understanding of my person and not inducement and that makes a difference.

    “Some of the things I learnt in the labour union is negotiations and never dictatorial because even though I was the President of the NLC, I cannot even control my deputy because he was voted the same manner I was elected. In the NLC you must listen to everybody unlike in government where as an executive you can dictate decisions.”

  • 2019: Former Oyo HoS joins Guber race

    As the 2019 general elections gather momentum, the immediate past Head of Service of Oyo state, Mr. Soji Eniade has declared his intention to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi in continuing the good work of rebuilding the state.

    Eniade, who is the currently serving as an Executive Assistant to Governor Ajimobi was at the Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to declare his intention and also intimate the party chieftains of his aspiration during a visit to the party secretariat.

    While stressing the need for people to elect a result – oriented politician as the next governor of the state, the former HoS noted that the next governor of the state should be someone who is ready to consolidate on the achievements of the incumbent Governor Ajimobi and even build on it.

    He also expressed his intention to contest the 2019 election on the platform of the party, calling for the support of the party chieftains and stakeholders in the state.

    Eniade, who was accompanied to the Oyo APC secretariat by hundreds of his supporters, maintained that one of the key drivers of the socio-economic development of any society is policy consistency.

    Read Also: 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    He said Oyo state has continued to experience substantial level of socioeconomic progress in the past seven years under the leadership of Governor Ajimobi, adding that the people of the state should not allow the wheel of progress to be rolled back.

    He said, “Fellow pacesetters, what we have to do to get to the desired destination is to keep moving forward. Unarguably, considering the substantial level of socioeconomic progress we have experienced in our state in the last seven to eight years under the able leadership of Governor Ajimobi, every well-meaning citizen of Oyo state will agree with me that there is no other direction to go than forward.

    “This is why the major thrust and driving purpose behind by gubernatorial ambition is to ensure that our state keeps moving forward. As such, I believe strongly that to move our state forward, we have to adopt a SWIFT approach. These coined acronyms will serve as the guiding components to drive our state forward.

    “Just as my decision to serve my state at a young age, my foray into politics at this time is also not accidental, I yearn to serve. Julian Gillard, the first Australian Prime Minister stated that only those who step out, run and rule the world.  This stirred me to join politics to bring to reality, my burning desire to be a source of renewed hope for every citizen of Oyo state.

    “After garnering wholesome experience in governance in my 35 years of public service, I am determined to join the league of the best and brilliant minds who are bold enough to step out, come together and partake in the drive to keep our state on a forward track.

    The former HoS explained that “SWIFT connotes: Socioeconomic development; Women and Girl -child empowerment, Industrialization through infrastructure; Future generation; and Technology and creative industry development.”

    The aspirant was received at the secretariat by the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke who was accompanied by other Senatorial Chairmen, members of the state executive, leaders, elders and other party stakeholders.

    In his short remarks, the state chairman, assured that a fair playing ground would be giving to all the individuals who have shown interest in contesting for the party ticket ahead for the 2019 elections in order to ensure that a credible candidate emerges to continue the good work of the present political administration.

  • APC Convention: Enugu APC, endorses Enukwu, Izunaso, Moghalu for Second term

    Ahead of  the national convention of the  All Progressives Congress (APC), the Enugu State chapter of the party has endorsed the incumbent national Vice Chairman, South-East, Chief Emma Eneukwu, national organizing Secretary Senator Osita Izunaso and National Auditor George Moghalu for re-election

    The endorsement was announced in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held  at the party’s secretariat on Friday.

    The sate chairman of the party, Dr Ben Nwoye who read the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which was also attended by the State Working Committee members of the party, said all the existing zoning arrangements of the party remains.

    The development is not unconnected to a press statement issued by a group in the State, which is sympathetic to a former Secretary to Enugu state government, Chief Onyemuche Nnamani as Eneukwu’s replacement.

    But the party said such group should be dis countenanced as they were only merely in a task to destabilize the APC in Enugu State and eventually deny President Muhammadu Buhari votes in 2019.

    The communique read in part, “Chief Hon. Emma Eneukwu having performed excellently well and being an indigene of Udi Local Government Area has the support of the entire Enugu State delegates to the APC national convention.

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    “That we condemn in totality any attempt by anybody no matter how highly placed to destabilize the agreed zoning arrangement in the State, previously established by leaders of the party in 2014, as it relates to party positions.

    “That we commend the national convention committee of the APC in all of its efforts in planning a hitch-free national convention.

    “Enugu State APC cannot be cowed by anybody, no matter any previous position you may have held, or the position the person may occupy. We must learn that new leaders must emerge, we can’t continue to lead this country with our past glory.

    “Every day new leaders emerge, the world is calling for new leaders. Very recently, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not Too Young to Run Bill into law, this shows progressive leadership.

    “Those who have been either past governor, past senator or past this or that must allow new leaders to emerge, must allow those who are leading well to lead. We cannot be cowed by those who joined us from PDP.

    “If PDP was a great party, where they had served as either senator or SSG, they should have remained in PDP; we built APC, we established APC in Enugu State. So, we cannot be pushed around.

    “People believe that politics is about their village, that politics is about those who bear the same surname with them.

    “Today, Enugu State APC has taken a stand, we cannot have a state chairman from Nkanu West and Vice Chairman, Nkanu West it can’t help us in election. People here are not in APC because Buhari won, they have been here even when APC was yet to be accepted, when people called us all sorts of names, including Boko Haram. Some of us we almost ostracized. We cannot, therefore, at this stage allow latter day converts push us aside.

    “For emphasis, Emma Enuekwu, George Moghalu, Osita Izunaso are our choice, we are 100 percent behind our leaders,” it further stated.