Towards Making Osun APC a Better Party
To us, the confidence reposed in me and the entire executive to steer the affairs of our great party, APC, in our dear state of Osun from now on is both an opportunity and a challenge. It is an opportunity to put our hands on the plough in steering our great party to the next level. It is a challenge because, the task ahead is daunting. It is a pleasant challenge though to sweat and labour for our great party until APC reaches the promised land at all levels. Ours will be a commonwealth, to which everyone contributes and from which everyone benefits. With the support of all of you, we will not labour in vain.
This time we are experiencing in our party in the state of Osun is unique in the sense that for the very first time in the history of any party, all the governors that have ever ruled the state of Osun have congregated in this great party. From the first executive governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, to our father and former National Chairman of our great party, Chief Bisi Akande, and the immediate past governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and our indefatigable governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, we are blessed as a party with a cream of experienced leaders from whose well of knowledge we will draw in running the affairs of our great party.
To be sure, political actors from both the progres- sive and the conservative folds have put resources together to upstage political forces that by their actions only make spurious references to democracy but are indeed undemocratic in their words and deeds. The formation of APC has once again showed that democrats from different ideological backgrounds are determined to work together to ensure that the electorate are no longer taken for granted by the forces of evil that have held this nation hostage at the federal level since the onset of this 4th Republic.
APC, under our leadership, with the support of all and sundry, is well positioned to continue to mobilize men and women in the onerous task of ensuring that the forces of evil are completely rooted out. Our executive will be proactive, and will not wait until things get out of hand before thinking of what action to take. We understand that the party executives constitute the engine room through which party policies are espoused and promoted. We shall provide the gateway for ensuring people’s continuous confidence in our great party. You have enthroned a leadership that will continue to sell the party to the people until the whole state is taken over. We will pre-occupy ourselves with how to manage our recent success at the polls and translate the recent show of support displayed by the populace to full party membership.
My distinguished party leaders and members, we are well aware that party leadership is a serious affair. We want to assure you all that we are well tutored in the art of organization and mobilization of men and resources. We are resolved as true democrats to ensure openness, democracy, and a level-playing field within our party. We will defend our party’s position in rain and sunshine, in the open and in the secret. We do not lay claim to monopoly of knowledge. Rather, we are prepared to listen to others and consult other party leaders and members from time to time. We will not be sectional but we will be sensitive to the different backgrounds and orientations of party members. We will build the structures of our party into a functional party machine to meet the challenges of political battles of the present age. I make bold to say without any equivocation that there is room enough for everyman to contribute his views but not enough room for anyone to dominate. However, opinions of our leaders will be sought and respected.
To conclude, this executive will among others: be all inclusive and carry everybody along without discrimination to ensure a level-playing field for all aspirants to political offices in our party; enthrone sound organizational structure and accountability within the party; cooperate with the governor, and his team to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy; ensure an open-door policy that will enable all party members access to the secretariat to raise questions, make complaints, offer advices and volunteer, mobilize and raise fund for the running of the party; ensure internal democracy within the party; engage in issue-based discussion and opposition while avoiding politics of bitterness; research and defend the positions of the party wherever the need arises; organize regular training for party workers and candidates; conduct regular opinion polls on party strengths to inform planning and actions; and consult with party leaders from time to time as the need arises.. Distinguished party leaders and members, we are ready to serve and we humbly accept your call to service.