ABUJA – Bold and strategist former Gov. Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Kukuruku hills of Edo State simply walked over to obtain affirmation to become the new national chairman of the All Progressives Congress yesterday.
The labour unionist turned politician emerged along with 23 others as unopposed as members of the new National Working Committee of the ruling party.
The other unopposed officers included, former Ekiti State Gov. Niyi Adebayo(Deputy National Chairman); Babatunde Ogala (National Legal Adviser); Pastor Bankole Olajuwon (National Vice Chairman, South- West); Ibrahim Masari (National Welfare Secretary); Hon. Jack Alumba (Deputy National Welfare Secretary); Tunde Bello (National Financial Secretary and others.
The well over 6,800 delegates drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who had defied the down pour that greeted the national convention, were left to fill the remaining 36 vacant offices, as at the time of filing this report.
This is even as President Mohammadu Buhari commended the modalities employed by the convention organising committee to elect a new exco for the party.
He therefore, urged the delegates to maintain the peace and orderliness as well as, keep faith with the party.
In his welcome and farewell speach, outgoing National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, urged members to continue to support the party.
He expressed gratitude to founding fathers of the party for their steadfastness during difficult times.
Meanwhile, elated Edo Sate Governor Godwin Obaseki, has greeted both the out-going and incoming national chairman of the APC, Odigie-Oyegun and Oshiomhole respectively for their accomplishments.
Speaking after Oshiomhole was announced the elected National chairman of the APC at the party’s National Convention yesterday, he noted that, “the former governor’s emergence is an acknowledgement of his people-centered leadership and his commitment to the advancement of the nation.”
“We are very proud of Comrade Oshiomhole’s emergence as the National Chairman of our great party, the APC.
He is adequately equipped to foster unity and provide a new direction for the party, as we move closer to the general elections in 2019.”
He saluted the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for providing purposeful leadership that brought the APC to global reckoning after it has defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s impressive rise to prominence was the product of a combination of hard work, humility and faith in God.
From his humble background, he was taught the inestimable value of hard work, integrity and a good name.
In the federal civil service, Chief Odigie-Oyegun distinguished himself and was propelled to the enviable position of a federal permanent secretary.
Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s forthrightness, civility and decorousness garnered from his impressive years of service to our great country in the civil service, marked him out for higher national call to serve our country after his retirement from the federal civil service.
These sterling qualities earned him the confidence of Edo people, when they turned out in their numbers to entrust him with their mandate as the first Governor of Edo State, in the aborted third Republic, from 1992-1993.
As a loyal and dedicated party man, his leadership qualities earned him the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and under his leadership, the APC grew into the largest party in Nigeria and displaced the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power at the center, through popular vote in the 2015 presidential election.
In particular, the 2015 presidential elections marked a turning point in the political history of our great country and reset the destinies of over 180 million Nigerians for greatness.
It was the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, that an opposition party would obliterate a “behemoth” ruling party.
Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s sagacity and wealth of experience helped in stabilising our great party during our most trying moments, when members of the decimated opposition wished us doom.
He is passing the baton of leadership of our great party, the APC, after successfully navigating the party out of troubled waters and making it stronger, stable and better prepared for the challenges of the future.
Edo State is proud of this illustrious son for his immense contributions to the entrenchment of democracy in this country.
History will forever adjudge Chief Odigie-Oyegun a worthy son of Edo State, one who elevated our politics and ushered in a new era of positive change and development for our great party and our country”, he continued.
Oshiomhole’s election at the well attended APC National Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, followed withdrawal of other aspirants from the chairmanship race.
On the side lines were two factions from Delta led by Ortega Emerhor and Great Ogboru who clashed, leading to commotion at the Delta state stand.
Despite the rains Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) officials werr on hand in strategic locations for traffic sanity and safety around the venue.
The officials diverted traffic from Ralph Soheinde Street at Federal Ministry of Finance to Goodluck Jonathan Expressway and other routes to take heavy traffic away from the convention venue.
Tight security as police helicopter hovers in the air.
Vendors of various products also had visible presence in the convention vicinity, taking advantage of the crowd of delegates and their supporters to make brisk business.
Prominent among the vendors were those selling food, snacks, soft drinks, mobile telephone appliances and APC items.
The venue of the convention was adorned with white, blue, red and green colours of the APC and was also decorated with the party’s flag.
The environment was replete with posters of contestants for various positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, some carried round by their supporters.
No fewer than 6,800 delegates are expected from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to be in attendance at the convention.
