ACN CHIEFTAIN CHARGES YOUTHS ON CHANGE
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A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Dr. Oloruntoba Oke, has charged youths in the country to believe in the generational change, which he said the party is preaching.
This, he said, informed the reason the party adopted Malam Nuhu Ribadu as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming presidential election in the country.
Toba emphasized that the chances of the ACN were high in the on going electoral process in Lagos State and in Nigeria as a whole. “ACN is a party to beat in Lagos State and in Nigeria. We are the leading party, a party of progressive minded individuals, a party that will continue to shine. ACN is popular in Lagos because of the performance of our amiable governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN.
“Since 1999 when ex-governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took over in the state, things have never been the same. The state has been transformed in the areas of transportation, health, education and others. We have delivered the dividends of democracy to the people,” he stressed.
Toba said that picking Nuhu Ribadu, an anti-corruption crusader, as the party’s presidential hopeful, is a big achievement for the party.
He added that the party would perform better in the April 2011 elections.
Ifako-Ijaiye Chairman’s Wife Promises New Dawn
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Wife of Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mrs. Modupe Oke, has told the people of the council, most especially the market women that the administration of Apostle Oloruntoba Oke will be the beginning of new things in their lives.
The chairman’s wife said this during the swearing-in of councillors of the local government at the Events Centre, Area Office, NRC Building, Old Akute Road, Iju, on Saturday.
Speaking with P.M. News, Mrs Oke said the new administration will fulfil all the electoral promises made during the ACN campaign.
She stated further that the support and commitment shown by the people of Ifako-Ijaiye during the campaign period will not be in vain.
“We will always be indebted to the people of Ifako-Ijaiye for the trust they reposed in us and the moral support they gave us,” she said; adding, “We are poised to repay them by carrying out our responsibilities in office without fear or favour.”
She said the tenure of the new leadership will usher in new things in the area of infrastructure, capacity building in the youths and the market women in the area.
Mrs Oke also promised to always stand by the chairman to make sure he does not fail to deliver the dividends of democracy he promised while seeking office.
She thanked all the Baale in attendance, the party leaders and everyone that contributed to the success of ACN at the polls.
When council witnessed change of baton
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Opposition parties that were already dreaming of victory at Saturday's council polls in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area, following the failure of the incumbent chairman, Mr Demola Doherty, to win a return ticket from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), may have to go back to the drawing board.
Rather than begrudge party leaders for dropping him, and undercut the chances of the winner of the party primaries at the poll, Doherty shocked all when he decided last Tuesday to turn his defeat around and presented the party's choice, Dr Oloruntoba Oke, to party chieftains as the man to work for.
The event, which was held at the Events Centre, Ifako Ijaiye Local Government annex, pulled party leaders together, and hundreds of party faithful, who expressed their happiness.
Among other party leaders at the occasion was the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Alhaji Ajibade, the state chairman of the party, Chief Henry Oladele Ajomale, who was represented by Mr Sola Abayomi, ACN Apex Chairman for Ifako and Ojokoro, Chief Ayokunnu Akande, the party chairman for the council, Alhaji Akintunde Fadayomi, former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Morufudeen Adefolabi, Vice chairman of Ifako Ijaiye, Mr Kayode Aremo, and his Ojokoro LCDA colleague, Mrs Fausat Olajokun, among other prominent party leaders .
Doherty, who described the occasion as novel in the annals of the state, said the idea to have the change of baton, came from the charge he got from Tinubu. He also praised all other party leaders , who had been at the vanguard of promoting peace and understanding, adding that the event was the culmination of their efforts.
He said: "When the party published the list of the flag bearers at the forthcoming poll, I got a call from our Asiwaju and he told me that I should work with the party's choice. He asked me to build a team round Oloruntoba Oke. he said I should take him round and campaign with him, that he expected the two of us to work on taking Ifako Ijaiye higher; that assignment is what we are kicking off here today, we are all members of the ACN, the party is supreme."
Doherty further said: "I am presenting to you, the man we should all work for. I am publicly handing over to him the council before you all; let your loyalty be towards the party.
"let us all work for Oke. I charge you all to extend to him the same work which gave us 24,000 votes in the last general election. This time around, let us try to record 40,000 votes for Oke."
Responding, Oke praised Doherty and assured that he would continue where he stopped in the interest of bringing the dividends of democracy to "the youths, the women, the unemployed, the elderly and the party.
He added: "Just as our chairman was called by our leader, that was the same way Asiwaju called me three years ago and told me to work with him, (Doherty), who was the party's choice. He told me that we should work together to ensure that the party wins the poll, and to ensure that peace reigns. Let me assure you that everyone working for Doherty are henceforth Oke's men. We are one and this council would witness growth and development."
Also speaking, Adeola Adefolabi praised Doherty for the gallantry displayed in accepting the decision of the party in good faith.
He said: "We all should take a cue from his action. We have a bigger enemy out there. Let us all go out and rout them out of our council. Come October 22, let our votes speak so loudly about our collective resolve."
Apex Chairman, Chief Akande spoke in the same vein. He said with the torch of unity handed over to Oke by Doherty, the council has no other place to head to but up."
Fadayomi praised Doherty and assured that though some people might have issues with his politics, the party would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the grassroots. He called on the people to eschew bitterness in their political pursuit.
