As the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state warms up to participate in the forthcoming nationwide Congresses, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Party in the state, Chief Akin Oke, has reiterated the commitment of his leadership to the conduct of exercises that would produce the best results for the party and its faithful in the build to the 2023 general elections.
Chief Oke stated this in his remarks during a courtesy visit paid to the Oke-Ado, Ibadan State Secretariat of the party by the members of the Oyo APC Councilors Forum on Tuesday.
The Forum members led by their Coordinator, Hon. Adesoji Adesokan, had said that they decided to visit the State Chairman and the entire Executive Committee of Oyo APC in order to formally register their gratitude over the roles played in the successful prosecution of the litigation which emanated from their sack from office by Gov. Seyi Makinde upon his assumption of office on May 29, 2019.
According to Hon. Adesokan, “the success recorded at the Supreme Court on May 7, 2021 could not have been possible without the support of the like of late Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief Akin Oke and other eminent leaders of our great Party. It is worthy of note that the Akin Oke-led State Executive Committee did everything possible to encourage our legal team and other key players throughout the time which the litigation lasted.
“We are indeed grateful to all lovers of democracy and the rule of law in the society who stood by us while we are also using this opportunity to appreciate the likes of Engr. Faozey Nurudeen who supported us in all ramifications. With this feat achieved, our party has demonstrated to the whole world again that what democracy needs to succeed in Nigeria is strict adherence to the dictates of the Constitution and the rule of law.
“As faces of the APC at the grassroots level, we have come today to validate the popular rating of Chief Akin Oke and his team of State Exco as the best thing to have happened to any political party in the history of democracy and public administration in the country. Apart from our victory at the Apex Court which was facilitated by the state leadership of the party, another unprecedented feat recorded in the construction of an edifice which now serves as our new State Secretariat is something we are proud of.
“It is on this premise that we have come here today to present an Award plague in recognition and appreciation of the lasting legacy being erected by our father, Chief Akin Oke, and his wonderful team of party exco. We also use this medium to appeal to Baba Oke and other leaders not to rest on their oars as we call on them to mobilize resources and ensure that our party emerge from the forthcoming Congresses without any rancour or crisis.” Adesokan added.
In his response, Chief Oke thanked the former Councillors for their thoughtfulness and sense of gratitude. His words; “I want to appreciate you for being thoughtful on the need to visit the State Secretariat today to convey the beautiful messages you have brought to us today. Once again, we congratulate you and every other members of your ALGON on the victory recorded against the tyranny of the Makinde administration which sacked you from office illegally.
“Without mincing words, we recognise you all as integral parts of the party in the state and we can assure you that you would always get the right treatment as desired. However, I urge you to go back to your respective Wards and start mobilising members of the public who are registered voters ahead of the 2023 general election since it is now evident that the current PDP administration has failed by all indices. It is your duty to remind the people about the difference made by the last administration of Sen. Ajimobi and also, you should tell the world that APC would do more if allowed to return to power in 2023.
“And lastly on the issue of the forthcoming Congresses, the outcome of the stakeholders meeting which we had at Lafia Hotel, Ibadan last week was a clear indication that we are poised for a hitch-free exercise as all gladiators and active players are ready to go back to the drawing board and reposition the party from the grassroots which is the Ward level. On our part, we shall do everything possible to ensure that no well-meaning member of Oyo APC is denied the right to participate and get fair results in the whole exercises just like we did in the last membership registration and revalidation exercise.” Oke stated.
