The battle for the 2023 general elections may have begun in earnest in Oyo state as leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, made a collective vow to work assiduously with other stakeholders to dislodge the government of the Peoples Democratic Party from power.
At a meeting of the Oyo Central Senatorial district of the APC held at Oyo and which was attended by notable political gladiators within the Progressive fold across the state, all the speakers were unanimous in their call for unity and harmony among leaders and members of the party particularly as the nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise drew nearer.
In his address at the meeting; former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, expressed optimism about the APC claiming overwhelming victory in all elective posts across Oyo state and Nigeria in 2023 “provided all patriots and party faithful are ready to work together and do the needful to win the confidence of the electorate in all the nooks and crannies.
“In Oyo state, it is only the APC that can stop the APC from winning all the future elections just like it played out in 2019. Now that we have put the past behind us, we must all rise up to take up the challenge and reclaim our dear state from charlatans who are in the saddle at the moment. It is obvious that the real politicians are in the APC while the few ones in PDP have been blocked from participating in governmental affairs.
“To this end, we must be able to put our house in order and also attract those gladiators in the PDP who have been humiliated by the man in power. It is not yet time for intra party struggle for party tickets as what is important now is how to build a strong and virile Oyo APC.” Alao-Akala said.
The lawmaker representing Oyo Central in the National Assembly, Senator Teslim Folarin lauded party leaders and members for their steadfastness and loyalty in the previous months “even when it seemed the party would not survive the crisis confronting it immediately the 2019 gubernatorial poll was lost. It is the dawn of a new era and we shall all work together to improve the fortune of our dear party. Right from this moment, I am assuring you that Oyo APC will continue to wax stronger as many people are coming to join us.”
Speaking in the same vein, Sen. AbdulFatai Buhari called for patience and unity among members of the party across the state. “We the elected representatives are fully aware of the challenges being faced by most of you in terms of empowerment and we shall continue to work hard to bring succour as desire while we would not shy away from discharging our duty as lawmakers and party ambassadors”.
In their remarks; the state Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, and his deputy, Chief ‘Lekan Adeyemo, charged party faithful to do all within their power to mobilize aggressively for existing and prospective members to participate in the forthcoming membership registration and revalidation exercise which, according to them, would be a pointer to the fact that the APC remained the party in the state in the 2023 general election.
Speakers at the event also include; Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape and Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye. Other dignitaries who attended the occasion are; Hon. Tolulope Akande-Shadipe, Hon. Akin Alabi, Hon. Seyi Adisa, Hon. Babatunde Isiaka, Hon. Simeon Oyeleke, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Dr. Yunus Akintunde, Hon. Bimbo Kolade, Barr. Lowo Obisesan, Barr. Moruff Oyedemi, Engr. Faozey Nurudeen among others.
