Echoes from Southwest APC caucus meeting in Lagos

Leaders of the Southwest All Progressives Congress (APC) that recently met in Lagos were not carried away with their achievements in the 2023 general election but had frank discussions on their challenges and how to improve their winning streak in the region. KEHINDE OLATUNJI reports.

It was a meeting of minds when leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest met last weekend in Lagos to appraise the activities of the party and charted a way forward to retain their political hegemony in the region.

Since the 2023 general election when the party produced the President, 15 of 18 senators, 51 out of 71 members of House of Representatives from the region and four out of six governors, the parley was the first time the leaders had the opportunity to express their opinions and apologise to those who have not benefited from the reward system of the party.

Setting agenda for the meeting, its convener and chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu, said the meeting was organised to assess how far the party had fared and to reignite hope, noting that with its Omoluabi spirit, Southwest APC should be able to chart the course of change for the country.

The Lagos State governor also paid tributes to the founding fathers of the region, whose developmental activities led to the setting up of Cocoa House, Liberty Stadium in Ibadan and other legacy projects, recalling that through effective management and investment in education and agriculture, Southwest stood tall.

The convener of the meeting charged the present generation of Southwest leaders to reinvigorate efforts to banish ignorance and instil value of integrity, adding that the zone should pay attention to its youths by tackling the menace of ‘get rich quick’ syndrome.

He urged them to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration to realise its goals of reforming the economy of the country.
Noting that some members might be aggrieved that they were not accommodated by the reward system, he urged them to embrace peace, unity and reconciliation so that the party would not fall prey to the antics of the opposition.

He said: “As a key geopolitical region in the country, Southwest is blessed with immense potential to lead the country toward prosperity. We have abundant human and natural resources, exceptional creativity and intellectual strength, as well as a rich cultural heritage. These are the unique assets we can harness to move our region forward and give Nigeria a respected place in the global community.

“Now is the time for us to live in unity and work together in pursuit of goals that will uplift our people. We must restore family values, confront youth restlessness and tackle the growing ‘get rich quick’ mindset. Our country is facing difficult times like many other countries but the good news is that the President is addressing these challenges with focus and determination. It is up to the citizens not to succumb to laziness, but to cooperate with the government to achieve the swift recovery we all desire.”

In his keynote address, former Ekiti State governor and ex-chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who delved into the history of the party, said it was the first successful merger and coalition of progressive forces that stayed united and won power.
After reviewing the challenges confronting the party, he said: “Mechanisms for strengthening the resource base and rewards system of the party should be improved upon so that elected officials, employees, volunteers, and members who service our various structures are able to carry out their work with predictability, integrity, and consistency and not reduced to supplicants at the tables of political appointees.”

He also suggested nurturing of the internal democracy and crisis resolution mechanism in the party, adding that leadership should also attach value to feedback mechanism and ventilation of grievances.

While urging the Southwest leaders to prioritise development of the zone, wealth creation, education, and ‘inclusivity,’ he stressed the importance of expanding national social security and skills acquisition policies, and revamping the regional education system.

He bemoaned the challenges confronting the country, which he said were inherited by the Tinubu administration. He, however, cited security concerns, economic pressures, and unemployment as key areas requiring urgent attention of the President.

Tinubu, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, promised to take action on the issues raised and decisions taken at the meeting.

Noting that every politician has his root, he described the Southwest as his cherished political base and constituency.

However, some of the delegates expressed their grievances about lack of regular meetings, lack of access to those who rode on the back of the party to power, dwindling aggressive mobilisation for membership, disenchantment of party youths against the party leadership, and inadequate engagement and empowerment of youths and women.

They wondered why Yoruba youths were jettisoning the time-tested virtues of Omoluabi for which the older generation was noted for. It was, however, resolved that the region should double its support for the Tinubu administration in its efforts at tackling the mounting socio-economic and political challenges affecting the nation.

President Tinubu suggested that the zonal chapter should organise the meeting three times in a year to provide an interface between party members and those in government.
The president, who spoke on his achievements, said the pains of his reforms were not intentional, adding that they are temporary.

Other governors at the meeting were, Dapo Abiodun (Ogun State), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).
Also at the meeting held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, were party elders including former interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba; former Ekiti State governor, Niyi Adebayo; Prince Oluyole Olusi, Pa Olorunfunmi Basorun, Pa Busura Alebiosu, Pa Abiodun Ogunleye and Chief Alake Adeyemo, former deputy governor of Oyo State, and zonal officers, led by Isaac Kekemeke.

Others were Akinwunmi Ambode, Dayo Adeyeye, Ibikunle Amosun, Gboyega Oyetola, Ajayi Boroffice, Tony Adefuye, Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Adegboyega Famodu, Obafemi Hamzat, Shuaibu Oyedokun, James Faleke, Sarah Sosan, Tayo Ayinde, Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, Jamiu Ekungba, Yele Omoguwa, Olamiju Alao-Akala, Sola Iji, James Odunmbaku, Ganiyu Solomon, Musiliu Obanikoro, Olufemi Pedro, Rabiu Oluwa, Yemi Ikuforiji, Wale Raji, Akanni Seriki Bamu, Yomi Finnih, Isiak Akinlade, Karounwi Oladapo, Femi Ogunbanwo, Gbenga Kaka, Yemi Ali, Ayodele Adewale and Gbenga Omotoso.

Isiak Salako, Tunde Alade Balogun, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Ade Adetimehin, Yemi Sanusi, Olayide Abass, Tajudeen Lawal, Sola Eleshin, Cornelius Ojelabi, Bunmi Adetunmbi, Segun Adesegun, Omolola Ade-John, Ademola Adetokunbo, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Yetunde Ogundipe, Tolu Odebiyi, Senator Salisu, Adebayo Adelabu, Babajide Omoworare, Ayo Arise, Teslim Folarin, Remi Oseni, Musbau Oyefeso, Hon. Famurewa, Kafilat Ogbara, Ayo Afolabi, Olagunju Ojo, Niyi Babalola (Jaco), Toke Benson, Donald Ojogo, Bankole Oluwajana, Kayode Opeifa, Muritala Seriki, Tolu Bankole, Bunmi Ajayi-Oriniowo, Femi Egbedeyi, Vincent Bewaji, Alex Kalejaye, Olabisi Kolawole, Yetunde Adesanya, Funmilayo Tejuoso, Moshood Erubami, Lawal Kolade Paff, Lateef Ibirogba, Olumide Osoba, Bose Olojo and Segun Olulade also attended the meeting.

Oyebanji, Aiyedatiwa, and Osoba urged the people of the Southwest to support President Tinubu.
Osoba said the President deserved the support of the zone because the region motivated him to vie for the highest office in the land.
Osoba recalled that the zone had advised Tinubu to vie for president 17 years ago at a meeting in Lagos attended by Pa Olusi and Pa Busura Alebiosu.
He said: “We asked him to move from state politics to national politics. We, Yoruba, sent him on an errand to Abuja. We worked and Abiola did not get there. President Bola Tinubu is there now. He may have his weaknesses. Let us rally around him.”
Osoba also urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration in its bid to reposition Nigeria. He said: “By May 29, last year, no kobo was left behind for subsidy. Those who lost the 2023 election are still campaigning. We cannot keep quiet.”

Osoba called for unity and cohesion in the region, adding that “there is need for continuous meeting of national and state caucuses.”

He advised that the regional chapter should restore regular meetings as it was done in the days of Olatunji Hamzat, former zonal leader.

Osoba thanked the APC governors for maintaining security in their states, noting that mobilisation for future polls should start from Ondo by supporting Aiyedatiwa to win.
Chief Akande said Tinubu is president for Nigeria to be better. He complained that while he rushed down from London to attend the meeting of the National Caucus, it was postponed.

Urging the zonal leadership to accord priority to regular meetings, he said if party meetings are not held and government is not interfacing with the party, there will be disconnection.

While appreciating Sanwo-Olu for hosting the meeting, the Ekiti governor called for support for President Tinubu, instead of criticising him, noting that after Tinubu’s tenure, it will take time for Southwest to produce another president
He said: “Our members should not criticise the president in public. We should treasure our own. We can pass our messages to him through our leaders. We don’t know when Southwest will have the opportunity to have another president after Tinubu.”
Aiyedatiwa, who led delegates to the meeting in singing the Southwest anthem, said the governments of the six states should support regional integration.

He said: “We have to do a lot for our people in terms of service delivery. We should consider regional integration. Our youths should be encouraged and empowered to occupy strategic positions. We should encourage agriculture. We should support our president.”

Olusi noted that the practice of regular meetings for review and feedback had been discarded by new party leaders.

His words: “I was in the National Assembly before and I blew grammar there. It was in the days of Awolowo.  The late Lam Adesina was our secretary. I was the deputy secretary. Party would give you guidance. We don’t do it now. We should start doing it.
“I was National Vice Chairman, Southwest after Senator Ayo Fasanmi. We were holding meetings. It is not the governor that carries the load of the party. It is a party. You cannot be governor without the party. I suggest that we should have a committee to organise meetings.”
The APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the region should work to win Osun and Oyo states in the next governorship polls.

“We should be meeting and mobilising regularly to showcase the achievements of our president and governors. Our opponents are spending huge amounts of money to tarnish the image of our party.
“We need to update our party register. We need to make use of the APC Progressive Institute set up to enlighten our members on political mobilisation.”

In its communique, the zonal chapter resolved to support the administration of President Tinubu in his effort to revamp the economy and put Nigeria on the path of prosperity.

Other resolutions are as follows: “There should be regular meetings of party structures at all levels, in particular. The Southwest Assembly must meet at least on a quarterly basis and that the meeting must be sustained.

“There must be a regular and continuous interface between elected and appointed officials of the government from the zone and the party structures.

“A high powered committee must be set up to regularly evaluate the party activities in the region, to ensure the administration promises to the people are kept

“There must be regular engagement of party stakeholders with particular attention given to the youth and women.

“Deliberate and intentional plans must be put in place for future elections.

“Sustain the dreams and vision of our past leaders and founding fathers that birthed the excellence of Southwest.

“Improved and strategic communication at all levels to enlighten the citizenry and the good works of the administration.

“Set up a functional zonal secretariat for operational management and support.

“Data collation and management must be an integral part of party operations and activities.

“Investment in agriculture/food security, youth/women empowerment and job creation must be at the front burner of the regional development agenda in the zone.”