ROAD TO 2023: ACCORD PARTY CALLS YOUTHS TO FILL 453 NASS SEATS IN ITS FOLD, DELIVERS EMBLEM TO LAGOS GUBER, SENATORIAL ASPIRANTS
By Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
When you hear the sound of ‘Oneness and Progress’ rend the air, look no further it is the Accord Party. The party will not play second fiddle come 2023. It is calling vibrant Nigerian youths who have nation building at the core of their being to join the political movement to pick important slots for state gubernatorial, National Assembly seats, and states’ assemblies. The political party which is Number 1 on the ballot of Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also encouraged Nigerians not to give up as it is ready to bring a brighter day for the country.
On Thursday 5th May, at the party secretariat located along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Almaroof bus-stop, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, the state executives and members of the Accord Party in Lagos affirmed their resolve to deliver the gains of democracy to Nigerians. It also stated that it will enthrone democratic norms, good governance, and value for human rights and freedoms, Trek Africa Newspaper reports.
L-R: L-R: Senatorial aspirant, Mr. Olatunji Samuel Adigun; Accord Party Lagos Chairman, Mr. Dele Oladeji; and Lagos Gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Oluyinka Abiodun Oyeniji
Speaking at the state executive’s meeting adorned with the striking ‘yellow colour’ outfits worn by party faithfuls, the State Chairman, Mr. Dele Oladeji shared: ‘Politics is a long term thing. I can recall that in 1993 I used to see my parents participate in the SDP/NRC parties. I am born into a political family. I can recall the political jingles of then. My father participated actively in politics all through that period.’
‘But I remember that towards 1999, I asked my father ‘what is happening I am not seeing the regular political activities around you. He said that he is no longer interested and he is dissatisfied how they will usually use and dump them and thank God, that by His Grace, he has a house and he is not suffering, so why should he bother any longer about politics?’
In response to his father, the young man furthered: ‘I told my dad politics is not about you. It is about humanity. It is about service. What you were doing was what I was watching and I am following the steps. I told him we are no longer going to pull out despite any threat. That will be your area of contribution to society, I told my dad’.
Mr. Oladeji then charged all members of the party to stand forthright as inducement will come and threats will come in the coming days leading to the 2023 elections.
During the special consultative session, the gubernatorial aspirant for Lagos state, Barr. Oluyinka Abiodun Oyeniji and senatorial aspirant for Lagos Central senatorial district, Samuel Olatunji Adigun were presented by an elder statesman and leader of the party, Rev. Adeniyi. Lagos Freedom sacrosanct.
The guber aspirant, popularly known as Olu of Lagos, stated that his manifesto is summarized into the phrase, Social Welfare for Lagos Residents (SWELR). He added: ‘I am doing this because that is purpose for me. If it is for us to teach them how to do politics right, we will do that. Let’s build this in an organic way. Accord Party is organic. Let’s build it.’
Recalling the roles he has played in enthroning the rights and freedoms of the people, the human rights lawyer and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) said that last year he took the Lagos State Government to court. This was on behalf of about 300 workers of LASEMA Rescue Unit who were sacked because they were purportedly employed as casual workers by a company named Avantgarde. ‘I represented these 300 in court for free and ensured they collected their severance package when Sanwo-olu said he didn’t employ them but rather employed Avantgarde’.
On his part, the senatorial aspirant, Mr. Olatunji Adigun commented: ‘This is a path of conviction. I was formerly a member of A New Nigeria (ANN) party and I felt that their manifesto resonated with my vision and mission. About 4 years ago, I contested there but there were issues post-elections which were unresolved. Then I joined All Progressives Congress (APC) because I know there are two schools of thought to change – those who believe we should infiltrate existing systems and change it from within and those who believe we should build new structures.’
‘By now, I have met our Gubernatorial aspirant. For me, I chose to change from within while my brother, our Gubernatorial aspirant was on the other school. We didn’t talk for a long while but to my shock in APC, we didn’t have regular meetings and to make matters worse, a leader may just come to impose a candidate on those who have toiled in the party. The party elders were not ready to teach us, the young ones, so that we can also grow through the process. There were no ward meetings, no consultations, nothing. So I left again. By now, I was very tired but my Pastor kept encouraging me to hope again.’
‘Soon, my friend, our guber aspirant encouraged me to join Accord Party so can strengthen ourselves and build ourselves. Then I saw the good heart exhibited in this party. I give my word, we will build this party together.’
Also speaking during the meeting, a party stalwart simply known as Marshal of Ikorodu said that he decamped from All Progressives Congress (APC) because he saw the coordination and fortrightness displayed by the Accord Party. The man who talked about what they were able to achieve in just six weeks of campaign at the last election said that he and his Ikorodu cohort will deliver huge votes to the Accord Party in 2023 elections which is about 8 months away.
It would be recalled that the party has put forward Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi for the Osun guber race set to hold July 16th this year.
