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| Executive, member, Saw millers Association, Ekiti State, Mr. Kehinde Babatola; Chairman, Timber Trade Association of Nigeria, Chief Adebayo Francis; and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, at a Distinguished Leadership Award on the Governor, during the endorsement for a second-term in office by both Associations, in Ado-Ekiti |
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally been birthed in Ekiti State as chairmen of the merged political parties in the State, on Friday, formally lowered their parties flags in acknowledgement of the emergence of the newly formed APC.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, assured the crowd of supporters that the APC is government in waiting at the federal level come 2015, adding that the new political party represented the much-awaited change that Nigerians desire.
Fayemi said the APC has people-oriented developmental programmes that could meet the yearnings of Nigerians and wrest power from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party at the federal level.
He added that there is need for the transformative programmes in the 11 APC states to be replicated in all States of the federation hence the call for change at the federal level come 2015.
While stating that the merger that saw to the emergence of the APC was a fulfilment of the prediction of the late sage and Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo that at a point in the history of Nigeria, progressives in the South and North would come together to chart a common goal of making fundamental difference in the lives of the ordinary citizens, the Ekiti State Governor stressed that the new party would rescue the country from its state of uncertainty.
Fayemi said : “We have to rescue Nigeria and that’s why we formed this party. That’s why people of like minds, progressives from the North and South honoured that pledge made long ago by the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo that at some points in the future, the progressives of the north are going to join the progressives of the south and will form a political party that would make a fundamental difference in the lives of Nigerians. We have done it in the form of alliance before; now we are moving from alliance to merger. Merger in that,we are becoming a single whole. It is a change for good, progress, concrete transformation.
“Everybody in this country is worried about the future of our country, about the uncertainty of the moment, everybody wants change at the center change that will make fundamental difference in the lives of ordinary Nigerians”, he added..
Aregbesola asserted that APC has all it takes to transform Nigeria and bring the much-anticipated change in the various sectors of the nation’s economy.
The Osun State Governor assured that the new party would make change in the areas of employment, education and power while also providing adequate security of lives and property for citizens wherever they might be in the country.
Aregbesola also urged Ekiti people to rally support for Fayemi’s re-election come 2014; saying the positive change which Fayemi has been making in the State in the last three years must be sustained.
Also speaking at the event, the National Vice Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Hon. Razaq Muse, and the chairmen of ACN, CPC and ANPP in the State, Chief Jide Awe, Chief Tunde Ajayi and Alhaji Azeez Awolokun respectively promised to work for the strengthening of the APC in the State and assured that the party would retain its seat at the Oke Bareke Government House in 2014.
Awe who is now the interim chairman of the new party said the mammoth crowd shows that the APC is firmly in control in Ekiti as well as symbolizing the people’s support for the party and the present government in the State.
He added that the gathering is a symbol of hope not only for the State but also for Nigeria; saying the “good works” which Fayemi had begun in 2010 should continue beyond 2014.
At the event were the Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, former Governor of Old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, as well as some other members of the House of Representatives including Hon. Bimbo Daramola, Dr Ife Arowosoge, Hon Bamidele Faparusi, Chief Robinson Ajiboye, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Ganiyu Owolabi, the Chief of Staff, Chief Yemi Adaramodu, and other members of the State Executive Council.
Others include market women associations, Artisan and Technicians Associations, Motorcyclists Association and students among others.
Popular Nollywood actors including Afeez Oyetoro also known as Saka and fuji musician, Saheed Osupa performed at the colourful event.
The highpoint of the event was the lowering of the flags of CAN, CPC and ANPP and the hoisting of the APC flag as well as the march past by party faithful in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
