ACN deserves victory at Lagos council polls – Tinubu

TINUBU •Party flags off campaign at Onikan Stadium tomorrow

Oct 11, 2011 – The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Senator Bola Tinubu yesterday asked  members to brace up for the local government elections scheduled for October 22, saying that the party deserves victory across the pre-existing 20 councils and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

The former Lagos State governor called for unity, reconciliation and harmony in areas where the primaries conducted by the chapter created  tension and intra-party disagreement, reminding party chieftains that they would always find accommodation within the larger collective interests.

Tinubu addressed party leaders, candidates and aspirants at the ACN stakeholders’ meeting held at the party office,  Ogba, Ikeja.

The meeting, which was presided over by the chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, was attended by Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, ACN vice chairmen, Cardinal James Odunmbaku (Lagos West), Adeseye Amingo (Lagos Central) and Akanni Seriki-Bamu (Lagos East); Mainland ACN leader Hon. Wale Oshun, former Head of Service Yakubu Balogun, House of Representatives member Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Commissioner for Rural Development Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, his Transport counterpart, Comrade Kayode Opeifa,  Alhaji Mutiu Are, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, Mrs Kemi Nelson, Chief Funso Ologunde, Primate Charles Odugbesi, Hon. Toba Oke, Huntonyon Bamgbose and Hon. Goriola Agbara.

Ajomale thanked the chieftains and followers for keeping faith with the party, assuring them that they would not lose out when dividends of democracy are distributed at the grassroots. He announced the flag off of the campaigns for the council elections at Onikan Stadium tomorrow, advising leaders and candidates. to mobilise members.

Tinubu reviewed the primaries, lamenting that many members wrote spurious petitions against incumbent council chairmen. He said the false petitions were ignored because the party believed in truth, fairness, justice and rule of law.

He added: “Some petitions written against the chairmen were not true. Don’t because you want to remove a chairman continue to write false petitions. Remember the judgment day. Councillors should also desist from running after money after elections. Councillors who threaten their chairmen with impeachment would be impeached instead, if they do not inform the party leadership”.

The former governor, who said the party leadership had approved the list of candidates for the polls, advised Ikeja ACN leaders to resolve their misunderstanding at home. He said the party had no reason not to field the council boss, Hon. Wale Odunlami, as its chairmanship candidate.

Tinubu explained that the chairman of Agege Council, Jubril Abdulkarim, had to be given a second chance because the allegations against him were false.

Urging the ethnic nationalities in Lagos to continue to support the ruling party, he said Arewa and Igbo must have supervisory councillorship slots in Agege and Ojo Local  Government councils.

Tinubu frowned at the attitudes of members who have blocked the gates of council secretariats against some out-going chairmen, reminding them that their tenure would only expire when they handover to their successors after elections.

The party leader said the Ajomale’ Executive Committee had quashed the purported impeachment of the Agbado-Oke-Odo Council out-going Chairman, Pastor Kenny Okunmuyide, affirming that he would serve his tenure to the end.

He urged the candidates and  party members to  work for the success of the party in their  local government areas. Tinubu asked the members of the party in Isolo LCDA never to  succumb to threats.

He said: “Don’t be afraid. I heard that they brought sacrifice to the council secretariat. get a keg of petrol and pour on it and it will be consumed by fire and that will be the end”. The Nation