LABOUR veteran and former Edo State Governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday emerged as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He emerged unopposed at the party\’s national convention which also affirmed the election of 22 other members of the party\’s National Working Committee.
They include former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (Deputy National Chairman); Mr Babatunde Ogala (National Legal Adviser); Pastor Bankole Olajuwon ( National Vice Chairman, South- West); Alhaji Ibrahim Masari (National Welfare Secretary); Hon.Jack Alumba (Deputy National Welfare Secretary); and Mr Tunde Bello (National Financial Secretary among others.
- Already, Edo Sate Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated his predecessor over his emergence which he described as \”an acknowledgement of his people-centered leadership and his commitment to the advancement of the nation.”
He also congratulated other elected officials saying: “We are very proud of Comrade Oshiomhole’s emergence as the National Chairman of our great party, the APC. He is adequately equipped to foster unity and provide a new direction for the party, as we move closer to the general elections in 2019.”
He also described the immediate past chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as a worthy leader with honour saying: “Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s impressive rise to prominence was the product of a combination of hard work, humility and faith in God.
“In the federal civil service, Chief Odigie-Oyegun distinguished himself and was propelled to the enviable position of a federal permanent secretary.”
He said: “Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s forthrightness, civility and decorousness garnered from his impressive years of service to our great country in the civil service, marked him out for higher national call to serve our country after his retirement from the federal civil service.
“These sterling qualities earned him the confidence of Edo people, when they turned out in their numbers to entrust him with their mandate as the first Governor of Edo State, in the aborted third Republic, from 1992-1993.
“As a loyal and dedicated party man, his leadership qualities earned him the position of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and under his leadership, the APC grew into the largest party in Nigeria and displaced the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power at the center, through popular vote in the 2015 presidential election.”
According to Obaseki: “In particular, the 2015 presidential elections marked a turning point in the political history of our great country and reset the destinies of over 180 million Nigerians for greatness.
“It was the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, that an opposition party would obliterate a “behemoth” ruling party.
“Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s sagacity and wealth of experience helped in stabilising our great party during our most trying moments, when members of the decimated opposition wished us doom.
“He is passing the baton of leadership of our great party, the APC, after successfully navigating the party out of troubled waters and making it stronger, stable and better prepared for the challenges of the future.
“Edo State is proud of this illustrious son for his immense contributions to the entrenchment of democracy in this country.
“History will forever adjudge Chief Odigie-Oyegun a worthy son of Edo State, one who elevated our politics and ushered in a new era of positive change and development for our great party and our country.”
