The chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Ajiboye Omodewu, has declared that it is a hybrid political party that belongs to no one but all members.
He said this while performing his first duty as the party chairman during the official inauguration of other state executives and the 33 local chairmen of the party in the state.
Omodewu said all members have equal stakes in the party, being a merger of defunct legacy political parties, including the ACN and CPC and as former members of PDP, APGA, ANPP and LP.
“Soldiers go, soldiers come but the barracks remain! It is on this note I recognise the efforts and sacrifices of the immediate past state, local and ward executives of our great party.
“It is my pledge that I’ll build on the achievements of Chief Akin Oke’s more than eight years achievements as state chairman of APC.
“Since a tree cannot make a forest, I therefore commend all other executives, staff and leaders that served with Baba Oke. May Almighty God Preserve you as we jointly lead Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023 and beyond. Once again, thank you for excellently serving our great party for that long period of years.
“Fellow members of our great party, the congresses have come and gone; there is no victor, no vanquished. It is time to get united and mobilised for the 2023 general election.
“Though I am of Ajimobi political bloc, I belong to all forward-looking members of APC. My main tasks are to unite all tendencies within the party and to lead APC to victories in 2023 general election,” he said.
Omodewu admitted to the daunting task ahead of him as he declared: “To be in charge of a very sophisticated political party like APC is a heavy responsibility. I assure our teeming members, it is a responsibility we will not take very lightly.
“I pledge to do my utmost, God being on my side, to justify the faith and the confidence all APC members have imposed on me and other executives at all levels.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, I pledge to run an open and transparent administration where all party members will be carried along.
“Also, our administration will instill discipline, respect for rule of law and constituted authorities within and outside the party.
“Apart from genuine reconciliation and harmonisation, our administration shall also embark on aggressive membership drive.
“Let me reiterate that APC is a party built on the principles of democracy and human development; the party provides equal opportunity for every party member and any Nigerian that is willing to join the party.
“To the state and local party executives being inaugurated today, I charge you to work in line with the party’s constitution and also ensure you carry all party members along without discrimination or nepotism.
“You are also expected to work hard to settle all disputes and differences in the party living no aggrieved party member behind.
“While I congratulate all of you on your inauguration, I seek your understanding, cooperation and support in order to pilot the affairs of Oyo APC to electoral victories in 2023.
“I am open to progressive ideas, advises and suggestions. Therefore, feel free to relate with me. According to Winston Churchill, jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war.
“To this end, I urge you to extend hands of fellowship to members who are aggrieved because we cannot do the tasks alone,” he said.
Omodewu paid tributes to the memories of leaders of the Oyo APC who have passed on to the great beyond, noting that they were great leaders who died in active services.
The new Oyo APC chairman called for one-minute silence in memory of late former Governors Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi and Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.
“I solemnly pledge to religiously preserve their legacies and aggressively carry on with their unfurnished agenda, which is reclaiming Oyo State in 2023 from the misruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The journey to take back Oyo State in 2023 general election starts today,” he said.
He also assured APC leaders, aspirants and their supporters in the state that the era of impunity and imposition of candidates is over in the state chapter of the APC.
“Our administration shall create a level-playing field for members jostling for one position or the other in 2023 elections. We’re returning the party to the members; they will determine the faiths of all aspirants.
“No leader or group will be allowed to impose candidates on the party,” Omodewu assured during the inauguration of the state and local government executives of the party.
