Oyo APC Inaugurates Presidential, Guber Campaign Council

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated the heads and members of its presidential and governorship campaign council for the 2023 general elections.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General (DG) of the campaign council Dr. Isiaka Kolawole expressed optimism that the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin would not be an accidental governor if elected into office.

According to the former director of the Oyo State Liaison office in the administration of late former governor Lamidi Adesina and economic adviser in the late Abiola Ajimobi government, Folarin is the best person for the position of the Oyo State Governor in the upcoming elections.

This was just as Kolawole, who is the Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) at the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, said that the campaign council will work together with Olufemi Lanlehin-led reconciliation committee to achieve total reconciliation and harmonization of all the members of the party before the elections.

According to him, “It is a great honojr and privilege to be appointed by the Oyo State Chapter of our great party, the APC, to the enviable position of the Director General of our party’s 2023 Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections.

“With countless number of worthy and deserving party men and women who can also lead our 2023 campaign train to victory, I deeply express my heartfelt thanks to the Elders Advisory Council of the APC in Oyo State, the party executives, led by our State Chairman, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, our governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, OFR, all the party’s critical stakeholders and our teeming members, for believing in my capacity, and those of the other illustrious directors and members of the different committees to midwife victory in 2023. We thank you most sincerely.

“I humbly accepti the enviable but onerous task of serving as the Director-General of the 2023 Oyo APC Campaign Council, not just because of my commitment and dedication to the party, but I earnestly took up the position because I am personally convinced that the APC is fielding her best as presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates for the upcoming elections.

“Everyone knows Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his superlative leadership and track record of excellent performance as a public administrator, he will undoubtedly reposition Nigeria for the betterment of all. Tinubu will certainly turn things around in the country and give us the Nigeria we have all been craving for.

“I am more convinced that Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin, as the Executive Governor of Oyo State come 2023, will be the most excellent thing to happen to the Pacesetter State.

“He has been providing quality and rewarding representation from the age of 39, not only to the great people of Oyo Central Senatorial District, but to Oyo State at large.

“Today, he is the first-ever three-term senator in our state with lots of lofty achievements. Politically and socially, Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin is a big success, highly recognized, loved and respected across Nigeria.

“Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadanland is genuinely passionate to serve the people of Oyo State. He is determined to move Oyo State forward for growth and development.

“Meanwhile, I wish to state that our party has many competent and deserving members who ought to be part of the campaign council, but only 3,333 of us are privileged to paddle the canoe to victory land.

“I want to declare that all the party members and support groups are automatic members of the campaign council. Let us work together to achieve electoral victory in 2023 for a greater Oyo that all of us will be proud of.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. I want to assure the citizens and residents of Oyo State that we will run an issue-based, knowledge driven campaign. Our teeming party members and support groups across the 351 wards of Oyo State are being instructed not to engage in negative campaigns or violence.

“Though, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been engaging in violent, deceitful and propaganda campaign, Oyo APC will not toe that undemocratic path. The progressive party has a track record of peace and excellent performance and we shall progressively continue on that path.

“We are assuring the good people and residents of Oyo State that the next government under Senator Folarin will fully restore security of lives and property.

“We have also taken note of the deficit in infrastructure and the comatose state of health and education, all of which have been sufficiently addressed in our superb manifesto.

“Beginning from May 29, 2023, the Folarin administration will restore citizens’ faith in the state through humane policies and effective leadership.”

Speaking earlier, the State chairman of the party, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, enjoined members of the party to work together so as to achieve success in the election, adding that some other people would still be inculcated into the campaign council.

He then thanked the leaders and members for their support.

The former commisioner explained that some politicians are still coming to join the party, and advised the members to embrace them.

Also commenting, Senator Teslim Folarin, said that he was happy that the campaign council is composed of people with proven characters, competence and capacity required to lead the party to victory land.

According to him, “I want to restate that I am not seeking the mandate of Oyo State citizens and residents to rule, but to serve the state ate. Our mission is to move Oyo State forward for growth and development, and to restore her dignity and pacesetting status.”

“Unlike the incumbent administration in the state, the APC government under my administration will not give flimsy excuses to justify failures in education, health, agriculture, security, environment and other sectors of the Oyo State economy. I want to declare that there is no “FAILURE” in our dictionary.

“May I use this opportunity to allay the fears of the people of Oke-Ogun that our administration will not insult your sensibilities by turning the agrarian zone of the state to a destitute and beggars’ centre as captured in the manifesto of the present government in the state, instead we shall bring growth and development to the zone.

“Agriculture is the panacea for sustainable growth and development, therefore we shall leverage on our agricultural potentials to grow the economy, address food insecurity, and create massive employment opportunities for millions of unemployed youths of Oyo State. Therefore, Oke-Ogun is a goldmine, not a centre For destitutes and beggars.

“I sincerely assure the citizens and residents of Oyo State that Oyo APC will engage in issue-based campaign as we do not believe in violence and propaganda to win elections,” he said.

-Kunle Bakare.