The All Progressives Congress {APC} South West Geopolitical zone leadership convoked a stakeholder meeting today in Lagos.
This long in coming, very necessary and desirable engagement coming months after some geopolitical zones had convoked similar meetings as a way of shoring up the impact and fortune of the party by bringing crucial stakeholders to the table for exchanges and cross fertilization of ideas, not only on how to grow the party, or to continue to shore up support for President Bola Tinubu GCFR, but more importantly to bring these stakeholders to thesame page and up to speed, ultimately with a view to ensuring that the party does not become vulnerable and consumed by the success of today because the enemy of tommorow’s accomplishments is the success of today.
Realising this, the leadership of the party from the geopolitical Zone of the President has deemed it fit to put this event together.
The event was attended overwhelmingly by many stakeholders from all the six states an evidence that it was well received by all.
This is even interpreted as a form of acknowledgment of these party personalities whose hardwork contributed in no small mearsure to bring the party and the President to power, and that the victory at the polls of today may not have been possible without the input of these gentlemen and women, members of the party.
This event shows that the party leadership at this zonal level led by Chief Kekemeke and by extension the national is showing sensitivity and in touch with realities of people’s expectations and have acted appropriately and commendably.
To the best of my knowledge and as I possibly can recall, the last time we had a variant of this kind of meeting was in 2011 l, an aftermath of the 2011 elections, it held in Osogbo, Osun State.
Then we were in opposition, and to reinforce our opposition status, the party needed to sharpen us as arrows going forth to advance the interest of the people of the South west but more importantly emphasise our opposition presence in Abuja, that was the bargain and that was what we delivered on for the party.
However, today’s event is different because today we are in Government at the national, and the potency of adversity to bring people together is higher in chances than prosperity.
I figured that the party realised this and had to get these critical stakeholders to be on the same frequency with the people thereby necessitating this event, this reasoning I believe is well informed.
Speakers after Speakers ennunciated the importance of these stakeholders as the vital connecting rod of the party with the people and so the need to keep them fully committed in the pursuit of goodwill for the party and the Tinubu administration, alluding to the fact that the journey to this day was strewn with a lot of pains.
The event had all the Governors of the APC from the Southwest Geopolitical zone in attendance, and a broad spectrum, rainbow assemblage of serving and former elected office holders of the party.
Governor Sanwoolu, opened the event with his welcome remarks, and was followed by the remarks of Governor Oyebanji which was short , straight to the point and was rapturously received, he emphasized the need for the zone to commit to supporting President Tinubu’s administration’s success.
He said we have no choice but to ensure that President Tinubu delivers on the renewed mandate which portends a better Nigeria not only for the south west but the entire nation, and the short cut to that is that we must stay committed to the ideals of progressivism.
Subsequently other Governors followed suit.
The Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, spoke on behalf of the National Assembly caucus, asking that this event must become a permanent feature for us to be able to distill the maximum benefits for our people.
Goodwill addresses came from Chief Adebisi Akande and Aremo Segun Osoba both of whom were the leaders under whose leadership the alliance that berthed today’s APC of today was formed.
Others present were Papa Olusi, a former member House of Representatives in the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he also counseled the party to entrench and promote deeper values of democracy for us to be able to deepen the value of the party.
After all the special remarks, the August body listened to a Keynote address from former Governor Fayemi who chronicled the trajectory of the party, commending the party people for her commitment to the vision that informed the hardwork that led to the merger that ultimately berthed the APC and asking that a more equitable system of rewarding party faithful must be introduced and encouraged.
It can be questioned if this is a latter day reality, granted the spectacle when he was governor .
The President, Commander In Chief, who was unavoidably absent but represented by his Chief of Staff, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.
He delivered the message of Mr President to the August body and promised that the party will have to ensure that this event becomes a part of the enduring growth imperatives of the party and her resilience going forward.
Other dignitaries in attendance include , Minister of Power , Adelabu, Minister of Interior, Oyetola, Distinguished Senators, Honorable Members, like Rt Hon James Faleke, Jibola Famurewa, Otunba Ogunnusi, and more members at the State Assemblies were also in attendance and many other members of the party at different levels.
It must be stated that this meeting as the first in this dispensation is reassuring and no doubts party people must have gone back encouraged and renewed to stay by the party and promote her interest beyond just a being an election winning machine but indeed a party of value that guarantees her a place in our political evolution leading us through this challenging times, but more importantly a way to further endear the APC to Nigerians by how well it can impact our lives and continue to earn the trust and goodwill of Nigerians
Congressman Bimbo Daramola