President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, called on all leaders and stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State to put aside their differences and work together to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in 2027. Punch reports.
He made this clarion call at the maiden edition of the annual lecture series of the former Governor of the state between 1999 and 2003, Lam Adesina, held in Ibadan, the state capital.
The lecture was themed “Improving Nigeria’s Governance: Lessons From the Past, Strategies for the Future.”
Represented by the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, the president stated that the state was too important to be absent from the progressive fold in the forthcoming election.
He recalled that the late Adesina was a champion of democracy and earned himself a place of pride in the nation’s history due to his exceptional bravery and rare commitment to the ideals of service to humanity and good governance.
“Adesina stood for high democratic ideals that underpin the democratic system of government. Ideals are essential for ensuring that power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
“Ideals of effective participation in governance with citizens making their views known on policy decisions. Consequently, to honour his memory, the progressives in the state must come together as one. You all must fight the fight and win the battle… Come 2027, the state must return to the progressive fold,” Tinubu insisted.
The Senate Leader, who was also the guest lecturer, Opeyemi Bamidele, represented by Senator Shuaib Salisu, emphasised the need for Nigerians to rediscover the value system, which would encourage citizens to be more responsible, morally upright, and diligent, as opposed to the culture of indiscipline, avarice, and corruption.
Dignitaries at the event included former Governors of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo, Kayode Fayemi, former Senate Leader and APC Governorship candidate in the 2023 election in the state, Teslim Folarin, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, former Deputy Governor of the state, Iyiola Oladokun, Alake Adeyemo, acting APC state Chairman, Olayide Abas, Femi Lanlehin, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, Akin Oke, Adeolu Akande, and a host of others.
The late Adesina, who died in 2012, was a member of the House of Representatives (1979–1983), the chairman of the state chapter of the defunct National Democratic Coalition, a celebrated newspaper columnist, and an accomplished educationist who participated in the struggle that ended military rule in Nigeria in 1999.