The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has assured members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, especially those who joined the party recently, of equal opportunity and a level playing ground, noting that the party is big enough to accommodate more members.
Abiodun stated this at a meeting with members of the Appeal, Revalidation and Re-registration Committees and chieftains of the APC across the state, held in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
The governor allayed the fears of those who could not register during the revalidation exercise, adding that the party was ready to welcome more people into its fold to make it more virile.
He said the party would register anyone who is willing to join it, declaring “APC is not a social club, we are a political party and it is in our numbers that our strength lies”.
“I want to state that the party is much bigger than when we started it. We now have a former governor, speakers and members from both the national and state assemblies, chairmen of different political parties. In this size and combination lie our strength. This is a testimony that our party is doing something right,” the governor further said.
While intimating the party chieftains of his administration’s achievements in education, health, agriculture, housing, youth empowerment and infrastructure, Abiodun said his administration may not be able to do everything, but that it would leave Ogun better by completing abandoned people-oriented projects and inaugurating new ones.
“I always say that we do not aim to satisfy everyone, we cannot do everything. However, we aim to redefine governance. We aim to be known as a promise-keeping administration of a party that fulfils its promises,” he pointed out.
The governor emphasised that the vision of the APC in Ogun was to make the state conducive for people to live in and do business, adding that this informed his administration’s decision to be fair, just, equitable and accountable in distributing projects to every part of the state.
He observed that his inclusive policy has added value to his administration by tapping from the pool of experienced eminent indigenes of the state, maintaining that the party’s doors were still open to people ready to contribute to the development of the state in general and the party in particular.
Abiodun commended the Revalidation and Re-registration Committee for conducting a rancour-free exercise, noting that the large number of new members, especially from the opposition political parties, was a strong indication that APC is a party to beat in the state.
In his remarks, former governor of the State, Gbenga Daniel, acknowledged the unprecedented achievements of incumbent administration in the state, calling on the National Assembly to strengthen the local governments to enable them complement the state governments in taking development to the grassroots.
While noting the complexity of the state, Daniel warned against what he described as “opposition from within” and applauded Governor Abiodun for his ability to bring together and manage people of diverse political and social leaning, declaring, “it is a feat worthy of emulation”.
On his part, Chairman of the Re-registration and Revalidation Committee, Ademorin Kuye described the exercise, which started in the second week of February, as open, transparent and peaceful.
He further said that the Committee in the course of carrying out its assignment, visited randomly selected polling units in the 20 local government areas.
He however, expressed shock at the number of complaints from aggrieved members despite the level playing ground given to everyone during the exercise.
The Chairman, Appeal Committee, Farouk Adamu Aliu, dubbed the exercise “successful”, disclosing that his Committee was able to settle some misunderstanding which arose during the exercise.
He, therefore, called on APC members in the state to work as one in order to move the party forward.
In their respective remarks, Senator Biyi Durojaye and former chairman of the party in the state, Tajudeen Bello, urged party members to encourage more people to join the party, lauding the Abiodun-led administration for tailoring its policy thrust with that of the Federal Government.
Other party leaders at the meeting are the deputy governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, former deputy governors, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Segun Adesegun and Salimot Badru.
Others are Senators Odunsi and Gbenga Obadara, former House of Assembly Speakers, Tunji Egbetokun, Titi Oseni-Gomez and Suraj Ishola Adekunbi.
