By Bisi Adewumi
The All Progressives Congress (APC), has on Friday inaugurated the South-West Parliamentarians Directorate for its presidential campaign, to strategize, as key agents, in advancing the course of the party, as well as contributing significantly to the victory of its presidential flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the coming general elections.
The Director of the Directorate, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, CFR in her special remarks welcomed all the parliamentarians, past and serving, drawn from the six South-West states and at the national level, appreciating them “for the excellent job they are doing to set a solid foundation for achieving our collective objectives”.
She appealed to the Yorubas, especially the parliamentarians, “to see the 2023 election as an opportunity to set the nation on the path of sustainable progress and more essentially secure the mandate of a tested and trusted son of the Youba people as the next president and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. She advocated for strong collaborations and partnerships, as being essential in delivering the mandate of the APC.
“On our part, we the parliamentarians from the South-West Zone remain committed to this collective objective. We believe, and very strongly too, that by working together as individuals, teams, as a people, in the spirit of unity and mutual help-together, we can achieve victory in 2023, by having Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of our country”, she said.
Etteh admitted that without a doubt, the new administration taking office in 2023 will face a plethora of domestic and external challenges, such as dwindling revenues. According to her, these challenges which have threatened our national unity, are surmountable, if a visionary leader like Tinubu is voted in.
She reiterated that Tinubu is widely accepted locally and internationally as he toed the path of exemplary administration through his many leadership qualities in setting in motion the development of ” a Lagos for the future”. She quoted Tinubu (1999) as saying, “I have come to change the story, we will develop education, health, security, and empower youths and women to make Lagos work for all”. She claimed that Tinubu took on the huge task of transforming Lagos, and all are witnesses to the positive outcome of his Midas touch.
She stressed further that, ” Asiwaju was able to turn around the fortunes of Lagos, increasing its Internally Generated Revenue and laying the foundation of modern Lagos for his successors to build upon. He made large investments in education, and also initiated new road construction, required to meet the needs of the fast-growing population of the state”.
She enjoined all the lawmakers to work together, moving with great speed, intentionally, and perseverance, towards the widespread landslide success of the party and the victory of its presidential candidate at the polls, come 2023.
“Let us work together as one united family to ensure that Asiwaju does not miss out a single vote in the South-West geopolitical Zone of this country”, she submitted.
Hon. Kazeem Olanrewaju in an exclusive interview with our reporter spoke on effort to reconcile every aggrieved party member, as much as the party is enjoying relative internal peace.
Some of the parliamentarians in attendance include: Sen Tony Adeniyi, Rt. Hon Oluwasegunota Bolarinwa, Hon Abdusalam Taofiq, Rt. Hon Asimiyu Alarape, Hon Oladejo Adeleye, Hon Binuyo Ipoola, Hon Bodunde Oluwadamilola, and Hon Abiodun Abudu-Balogun.
Others are: Hon Abayomi Mayegun, Hon Rotimi Makinde, the Director of the Committee, Rt Hon Patricia Ette, the Deputy Chairman, Sen Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS) among others.