TINUBU, NELSON AND OLABANJI-OBA COMMEND PARTY FOR PEACEFUL CONGRESS
by Oki Samson
L-R; Immediate Past Chairman, APC Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; Newly Elected Chairman APC Lagos, Alh. Babatunde Balogun and Vice Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Princess (Hon) Folashade Olabanji-Oba during the APC State Congress held at the Party secretariat, Ogba, Lagos.
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Wife of the All progressive congress (APC) leader and Senate member, representing Lagos Central Senatorial district, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, APC Southwest women leader, Chief Kemi Nelson and Vice Chairman, Ikorodu local government, Princess (Hon). Folashade Olabanji-Oba were among party faithful that had commended the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Otunba Henry Ajomale’s led administration for conducting a peaceful and free for all congress that produced Alhaji Babatunde Balogun as the party new state chairman.
Speaking to journalists during the congress at the party secretariat on Saturday 19th May, Oluremi Tinubu, an APC chieftain, said the congress was peaceful and everybody is happy.
Lagos State APC Chieftains shortly after the state congress held at the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos.
Her words: “It was beautiful and we thank God that we had good weather. That will tell you that everything is by the grace of God. And you can see that everybody was happy and we are celebrating the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
I think the outcome was satisfactory to everybody. Everybody is happy at the event as party members used the opportunity to reacquaint themselves as they were happy to see one another. Leaders of the party have shown us the way to go and we are ready to go.
Commenting on the parallel congress where Mr. Fouad Oki emerged as factional chairman of the party in the state. Tinubu condemned the act, she said, “Those ones didn’t know what they were doing as far as I am concerned. We were at APC secretariat and those who are relevant in the party were there, so who led the parallel congress? That would be the question.
The party leaders were at the party’s secretariat Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was there. The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly was also there. I was equally there as well as many other party leaders.
APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (m) with members of the newly elected party state leaders led by Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, Chairman, APC Lagos State at Asiwaju’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Meanwhile, she urged the party new leadership to be transparent, “we pray for them and we thank God that our outgoing chairman, Otunba Henry Ajomale, has shown them the way to follow. The new leadership should learn from the old leadership.
Also, speaking separating at the congress, the Southwest women leader of the party whom had doubled up as the state women leader for about four years until the congress that produced Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has Lagos state APC women leader.
She said: “I feel very fine and elated that we are in one accord in the state. I am also happy that I am handing over as the state Women Leader to a competent hand”.
She also frowned and raise her rod at the parallel congress held in the state while, describing it as illegal. Her words, “I wouldn’t waste my time reacting to it because, as far as I’m concerned, it is a non-issue. Everybody is here”.
The congress committee from Abuja is here. All the security operatives are here, INEC is here, all the leadership are here. So, whatever is happening anywhere is probably some people celebrating their birthday, she declared.
Throwing more light about the process of the consensus candidates, she stated that, “Don’t forget that we started all of these from the ward congresses, where there was a full arrangement for people to come and vote for the candidates of their choice and that was what they did. The people actually came out to vote. That is the most important and that is all comers’ election”. So, if you have a leader that we all believe in and that in all the years that we‘ve been with him, he has never misled us. So, if he says you leaders sit together… For instance, over 15 women wanted to become women leader because the office has become so attractive. So, if we don’t have a leader with a vision, we may not be able to agree on the person that will be able to handle the office. For me, our leader didn’t do it by himself, he did it in consultation with other leaders from all the local governments and senatorial districts and the Governors Advisory council eventually ratified it. For me, nobody can accuse the leaders of the party of imposition or whatsoever, Nelson explained.
When asked what her advice to the new women leader was, she said that, “She has a lot of work to do. In fact, I feel guilty that I have raised the stake so high that she must do three times of what I have done. Because I’m bequeathing to her a legacy of confidence for the women which she must take it higher”.
On her part, Princess (Hon.) Folashade Olabanji-Oba, the Executive Vice Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government and a stunched member of the party, commended the electoral process and party leadership, she adviced the party new executives to unite members across the state, “I want to congratulate all the newly elected officials, I urged them to look beyond now by serving the interest of the party and making the party stronger and better for it to win all election.
Olabanji-Oba debunked rumors of internal crises, she declared that, “Lagos APC is united and healthy, we want thanked our leaders for a job well done and ur, she stated.
L-R; APC Chieftain, Cardinal James Odunmbaku; Immediate Past Chairman, APC Lagos State, Otunba Henry Ajomale and APC Southwest women leader, Chief Kemi Nelson during the party congress at the party secretariat in ogba, Lagos. Photo by Oki Samson
