By Dansu Peter
In a veiled reaction to the parallel State Congress conducted by Fuad Oki led faction on Saturday, the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the "the people who own the party have spoken and chosen their leader."
Tinubu made this comment while receiving the newly elected authentic party executives at his Bourdilion, Ikoyi residence when they paid him a courtesy visit.
He, however, hailed how the congress was conducted in a peaceful manner. The Congress, he said, was conducted in line with the guiding laws of the party.
“The people who own the party have spoken and chosen their leaders. The success of the congress held confirms the tradition of robust democracy and consensus-building that has brought progressive development to our state,” Tinubu said.
He hailed Senator Uche Ekwunife, who led the state Congress Organising Committee, and her team for conducting a free, fair and transparent exercise and for demonstrating commitment to the progress and success of the party.
Tinubu congratulated the newly-elected state executives and urged them to further promote unity and inclusiveness in APC.
The former governor urged them to rededicate themselves to the party and work to take it to the new level, saying winning all political contests became the party’s hallmark in Lagos.
He thanked the former executives led by Chief Henry Ajomale for their unparalleled stewardship that saw the party growing stronger, broader and more relevant.
The party stalwart lauded them for the steady way they led the party and maintaining discipline and cohesion through the years.
“The outgoing executives led by Chief Ajomale did a wonderful job. He led the party with a unity of purpose underpinned by the spirit of inclusiveness and purpose. Under them we never lost any election. We will not lose any election but this depends on how you handle your new responsibilities,” he said.
Tinubu said new chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, was no stranger to him and no stranger to responsibility, adding that as commissioner during his administration, he performed well.
The APC National Leader expressed confidence in his ability to lead the party and to deliver the good.
Balogun was commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture during Tinubu’s tenure as governor.
The new chairman thanked the APC national leader and pledged to work hard to take the party to the next level.
Recall Fouad Oki was elected chairman in a parallel congress held at the Airport Hotel Ikeja, while Sanni Oloye and Mr Wole Oshodi became deputy chairman and secretary respectively.
In his inauguration speech, Oki said that the congress held by his group was authentic; declaring that the exercise that took place at the Airport Hotel could not be described as parallel in whatever way.
“The congress held at Airport Hotel is the only legitimate one. I’m not aware of any parallel congress, what we did here was the election of one party, the APC. This is a coalition of different groups, namely; Justice Forum, the Mandate and United Group,” he said, assuring that the new APC led by him would carry the party to a greater level.
Meanwhile the Tinubu led faction of the party held it state congress at the party secretariat on ACME Road, Agidingbi, in which Tunde Balogun emerged the state chairman, while other excos are: Chief Sunny Ajose (Deputy Chairman), Chief Funsho Ologunde (vice-chairman, West), Mr Kayode Olusanya (vice-chairman, East), Mr Hakeem Bamigbala (vice-chaiman, Central), Dr. Wale Ahmed (secretary), Ms Olasunmbo (treasurer), Barrister Joana Adebobuyi (assistant treasurer), Mr Joe igbokwe (publicity secretary), Hon. Abiodun Salami (assistant publicity secretary), Ademola Sadiq (legal adviser),
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