Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okun land on Saturday kicked against what they called anti-party activities by some political office holders, saying their loyalty must be absolute to the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
This was the consensus of speakers at a meeting of APC Local Government Executives of Okun extraction, held at Kabba, headquarters of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
The State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd), while addressing the gathering, said that as much as the APC remains a party to beat in Nigeria and Africa, disloyalty to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, will not be accepted.
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According to him, the party in Okun land is strongly behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo, especially their re-election next year, pointing out that it is not negotiable.
He stated that the party is focused and will not allow division of any kind, saying the party has resolved to meet regularly to strengthen itself ahead of the next general and gubernatorial elections.
“If you want to be a rat, be a rat and if you want to be a bat, don’t come here and be a bat. As far as we are concerned, APC is one and any appointee of the Government either at the Federal or the State level that will not work with us, we will identify them. We must be together, you cannot be collecting salary from APC and be working against the same party,” Commander Omodara noted.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for leading the party effectively and efficiently, saying he has provided leadership to win elections by a landslide.
On his part, the Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the Federal University of Education, Pankshin (FUEP), Dr. Funsho Olumoko, asked state political appointees who are not ready to align with Governor Ododo, who appointed them, to resign.
“If you are in a system and you are not stable within that system, then you are not worth being in that position as far as I am concerned. If you know that you are not aligning with the one who appointed you, then the honourable thing to do is to resign and leave, so that you face what you want to face.”
He stressed the need for oneness, unity and teamwork in the party to deliver the President and the Governor next year overwhelmingly, as well as all APC candidates.
According to him, the meeting was timely, and he expressed optimism of massive victory for the party in Okun land, Kogi West, and the entire Kogi State.
He added that there is no polling unit on social media, saying elections, which are a game of numbers, are not won based on emotions and wishes.
Hon. Olumoko maintained that states have received fresh air under President Tinubu, with increased federal allocations, and thanked the President for finding Okun sons and daughters worthy of appointments.
Some landmark achievements of the President, according to him, are the move to revive the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the approval for rehabilitation of the Kabba-Ifaki and Kabba-Ilorin roads, saying that if re-elected, he will do more and the people of Okun land will benefit more.
Earlier, the Zonal Party Chairman, Hon. Emmanuel Ariyo, noted that the meeting was held at the instance of a critical stakeholder of the party, Hon. Funsho Olumoko, who believed that political meetings should not be held only during elections.
Hon. Ariyo urged others to emulate him for the party to grow stronger, and expressed appreciation to other party leaders, including Kogi State Security Adviser (retired) Commander Jerry Omodara and former Speaker Matthew Kolawole, for their support.
He also enjoined them to work for the success of the party in next year’s general election, stressing the need to deliver 100 percent for the APC.
