By Banji Ayoola
The South West Zonal Coordinator of the Asiwaju Tinubu/Shettima Coalition for Good Governance (ATSCGG.), Ambassador Sola Iji, on Thursday inaugurated the Ogun State chapter of the coalition.
He performed the exercise at the State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abeokuta, the state’s capital, during his maiden meeting with about 40 support groups which are already working for the coalition in the state.
In his speech at the occasion, Iji recognised Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in absentia and thanked him for making the meeting a reality for the coalition in the state. He also thanked the party’s State Chairman for allowing the use of the Party Secretariat as the venue of the meeting.
While apologising on behalf of the coalition’s National DG., Dr Adebayo Shittu, for starting the meeting far behind schedule, he informed the gathering about the former’s desire to attend the event.
In his words: “This is an inaugural meeting of our coalition in Ogun State. We are moving round the South West to have the coalition inaugurated.
“The coalition is an assemblage of support groups that are individually and independently working for the success of our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
“Many groups had been in existence before the primaries i.e. support groups working and clamouring for the success of Asiwaju Tinubu. Lo and behold, Asiwaju emerged through their efforts.
“These support groups that worked should come together and maintain their identity. We are not dissolving them into one group. Let’s keep working in an organised method so that our efforts can be recognised. In doing so, rewards should also go to us.
“There must be a system of reward. We need to have these support groups registered so that we can work collectively for the coalition. By so doing, we’ll be making the coalition relevant.
“I had thought we were going to inaugurate the excos of the coalition in Ogun State today. Since it is not possible today, it will be done in another time. Excos of the Coalition will parade a few officers that must be shared among the registered support groups within the ATSCGG in the State. This must be done transparently by the State Coordinator.”
Iji stressed the need for the support groups to work to compliment the work of the Party, saying the coalition is not in competition with the Party excos.
He emphasised that “we have a product that is in the market,” as he thanked the people present for their love for the coalition.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated State Coordinator of the coalition, Prince Emmanuel Odunayo, thanked the National DG. through the South-west Coordinator for the honour bestowed on him to be made the State Coordinator of the coalition in Ogun State.
He said his position would be “to serve and be a servant to others” and that “the position is not a right but a privilege bestowed on me.”
Addressing the support groups in the state, he pledged: “I am to hear your pains and relay them to the higher authority. I will always be with you and ensure the mandate is delivered.”
Responding, the representative of the support groups advised that meetings should hold regularly and punctually too.
He said that every penny of the coalition should be accounted for; while there should be no favoritism. He suggested that the state excos should go to the major support groups and other groups too; while the Campaign Council should include members of the support groups.
In his words: “What becomes of us after the election should be given a priority. Transparency is very vital in achieving success for our Principal. In subsequent meetings, all National Coordinators of the support groups should be invited to attend our meeting.”
They should promise that groups will not be trampled upon, he suggested..
Earlier in his welcome address, the Coordinator of the Ogun State chapter of ATSCGG, Odunayo, disclosed that about 40 support groups were already working for the coalition in the state.
He said it was necessary to bring the support groups together in order to harness their potential, work as a unit harmoniously, and operate with a unified purpose.
Odunayo noted that they have not made a mistake in having both Dr. Shittu and Ambassador Iji as leaders piloting the affairs of the coalition, saying “they’ are good leaders who would take us to the Promised Land.”
Giving the vote of thanks, a Federal Commissioner, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, NSIWC., Presidency, Abuja, and a spokesman to the South-West Coordinator, Onibudo ‘Wole Iroaye, thanked God for making the meeting a success.
He appreciated all the support groups that attended the meeting and opined that without them the meeting would not have been a phenomenal success.
Iroaye said: “The struggle to have the coalition inaugurated in the remaining States in the South-West remains a task to be accomplished in no time.”
He prayed that as the attendees came safely for the meeting, so also they would go back to their respective destinations safely.
This event makes Ogun the second state in the zone in which the coalition has been launched. Already, the state exco of ATSCGG has been constituted, and is working in Ondo State.
Read also:
