APC must seal PDP’s coffin in 2015 – Aregbesola

The Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has urged the newly elected Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun, Adegboyega Famodun, to ensure that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, does not have 10 per cent of the vote during the 2015 presidential election in the state.
This was even as the former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Sulaimon Argungu, called on the entire leadership of APC at all levels to work tirelessly to grow a political party and a mass movement that will usher in a new Nigeria in 2015.
Mr. Aregbesola made this call at the official presentation of the new executive councils of state, local government and wards of the APC in Osun at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo.
Mr. Famodun was elected as the state chairman; Isah Azeez, vice-chairman; Rasak Salinsile, Secretary; Segun Olanibi, Treasurer; Kudirat Fakokunde, women leader; Abubakar Muftau, Financial Secretary; David Morakinyo; Publicity Secretary; Adekunle Ogunsola, Legal Officer; Oluwole Akinloye, Welfare Secretary; Saliu Akanni, Osun West Zonal chairman; Olasosu Ogunremi, Osun East; Adelakin Adeoye, Osun central among other officers.
The governor admonished the newly sworn-in executive to hit the ground running so as to make quick the exit of PDP from the state.
He noted this can be done by rendering all PDP influence electoral influences insignificant in the forth-coming general elections.
The governor said, “You need to get to work earnestly.
“All members must work towards ensuring that PDP will not have ten per cent of the votes coming from Osun during the coming election. With that defeat, there will be no party called PDP in Osun.
“Come 2015 there will no longer be PDP in Osun, presently in APC in the state, we have all the governors that ever ruled in Osun, everything is working well for APC, with all this big shots in the party there was no discordant tune in the way the party executive emerged in the state,” the governor stressed.
He commended the outgoing chairman of the party, Biyi Adelowo, for presiding over the party when the party swept all the available elective positions in the 2011 elections.
Mr. Aregbesola noted that the achievement of Mr. Adelowo was the first in the state where a party will win all the available seats.
The governor also commended party members for their understanding during the congress, saying every member of the party cannot be party officers at the same time.
Speaking earlier, the former deputy governor who also is the Chairman APC state congress committee pointed out that the committee has been able to come out with a leadership that will promote peace and unity.
He noted that his committee despite some challenges has played a prominent role in the emergence of noble men and women as Osun party officers.
Mr. Argungu commended Mr. Aregbesola, elders, leaders, youth and women of APC in Osun for the sacrifices they made to ensure the success recorded at the congress.
He said, “I wish to appreciate the support and understanding of the outgoing interim chairman and all his team, particularly the secretarial staff for managing the affairs of the party in the last four years.
“I wish to urge the entire leadership of the party at all levels to work tirelessly to grow not just a great political party, but a great mass movement that will usher in the new Nigeria of our dreams come 2015.”
In his valedictory speech, the outgoing Chairman Elder Adelowo gave thanks to God for allowing him lead the party into a spectacular victory on April 14, 2011 when the party won all the available seats at the polls.
He added, “we also had the amazing grace of God to lead the party to another unimaginable victory over the tyranny and terror that the PDP unleashed on the citizens of Osun before, during and after the governorship election of August 9, 2014,” the former chairman noted.
In his own address, the newly elected Chairman, Gboyega Famodun, pointed out that during his tenure as chairman, he will provide a level playing field for members of the party.
He noted that his administration will also provide for everybody to participate and will not allow for dominance by any member of the party in the state.
According to him, “Future elections will not be taken for granted in the state and we will be pro-active on issues relating to members of the party and the party. We will at all times maintain an open door policy for the progress of our great party.”