- Commends leaders, members over successful Exercise Nationwide
- Says Ward Congress foundation for electoral victory
Deputy President of Senate and Senator representing Delta Central in the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has called on all members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to render absolute loyalty to the party as presently and ably led by the Chairman of the Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Omo-Agege who made this call on Saturday, while commending leaders and members of the APC for the successful conduct of the Ward Congress of the party in Delta State, also solicited the support of everyone for President Muhammadu Buhari, urging all to remember him in prayer coupled with patriotism to enable him finish strong in his task of nation-building just as Delta APC moves gradually to capture Delta State in 2023.
According to him, the level of members’ commitment in the exercise was a clear indication that the APC has attained a new pedestal both in electoral strength and political domination in the State.
He said “Today, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), conducted our Ward Congress across the nation.
“It is heart-warming that our leaders and members in all 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State participated actively, responsibly and peacefully in this internal exercise of our party.
“We thank our leaders and members for ensuring that the Ward Congress in Delta State and other parts of the country is overwhelmingly successful.
“The keen grassroots interest in the congress and massive turnout everywhere are particularly encouraging.
“Our people simply reaffirmed the reality that the APC has truly attained new, robust strategic electoral strengths to dominate the politics of Delta State.
“We can only continue to humbly ask our leaders and members to give absolute loyalty to the party ably led by the Chairman of our Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and support President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR with constant patriotism and prayers so much needed for the huge task of nation building, even as we move confidently to sweep Delta State clean in 2023.”
Stressing on the importance of the Ward Congress, Omo-Agege noted that it forms a foundation for the party ahead of 2023, urging every member to double their effort towards taking advantage of the new leadership which was ushered in by the Ward Congresses to guide and heal individual differences.
He pleaded with everyone one to shun all tendecies that can lead to self-inflicting injuries and anti-party activities, calling on the new leadership to imbibe the approach of rewarding loyalty and fidelity to the party.
“Here in Delta, the positive spirit of purpose that preceded the Ward Congress has further strengthened our party. This should guide us to earn and deliver future electoral victories.
“We must redouble our efforts to ensure that the gains of this leadership re-engineering process guide us to heal divisive tendencies, stop self-harming anti-party schemes and properly reward all who truly demonstrate fidelity to the progressive ideology of our great party”, he said.
Omo-Agege used the occasion to call all leaders and members of the party to bury the hatchet even as he commended the spirit of reconciliation which was largely exhibited during the Congresses, noting that it was a demonstration of the spirit and beauty of democracy.
He encouraged the new leadership to be magnanimous in victory, urging them to offer olive branch to their opponents as it was a case of no Victor no vanquished.
He said: “It is equally commendable that where divergences of opinions existed, such were largely handled responsibly, lawfully and harmlessly.
“That is the essential spirit and beauty of democracy – finding compromise from initial different perspectives through civilised means.
“It is in our collective interest for today’s winners to be genuinely magnanimous in victory by embracing and respecting their opponents. Nobody should be treated as a loser under any circumstances.
“Mutual respect through constructive engagements is a critical component of productive politics. Our new ward executives are trusted to humbly embrace this approach in piloting the affairs of our party at the grassroots.”
Omo-Agege assured that the leadership and members of the party must remain focussed towards rebuilding and repositioning the party for victory in 2023.
“We are rebuilding our party to win elections convincingly and comprehensively in 2023. With God, nothing will ever stop us”, he said.
The New Diplomat team that monitored the Congress in some parts of the State reports a peaceful exercise devoid of rancour.
At Evwreni Primary School, Ughelli North Local Government Area, members of the party defied the scorching sun to be in long queues waiting to be counted.
The same scenarios were observed in Olomu in Ughelli South, Abraka in Ethiope East and Orogun in Ughelli North.
A cross sections of party members interviewed expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise across Delta state.