•Preaches Hope

Action Congress (AC) in Ife Zone area of Osun State came alive and kicking when the President of Oranmiyan worldwide, Prince Felix Awofisayo toured the zone with a view to delivering the message of hope and peace from the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola.

For those who value wild life movie, the wisdom of fox and strength of lion could be of interest. It is deduced that fox is so wise that it could not easily fall into a trap, while lion has the courage and boldness coupled with strength to tackle any adversary in the jungle.

Awofisayo, a prince to the throne in Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba civilization succeeded in combining the wisdom of a fox with the strength of the lion in getting the warring parties in Ife zone united with out a hitch.

Penultimate week, the renowned Pharmacist-turned politician began the tour of peace undertaken on behalf of Aregbesola with Ife East Local Government Council Area of the organ of the party.

As if the visitation was the needed tonic, leaders and supporters in the council area trooped out en mass at Okerewe Ile-Ife to welcome the son of the soil, who came to bring them the message of hope from the symbol of their progress, Aregbesola.

Getting to the high table from the entry point was hectic, as members of the party held Awofisayo to ransom with dance of joy and political lyrics that cheered all politicians and entourage up; it took the intervention of the party leaders in the council area before the Oranmiyan chief was left off the hook to join other dignitaries on the high table.

Opening the floor, the state Deputy Chairman of the party, Alhaji Muraina Iyiola expressed his satisfaction with the turn-out at the meeting, lauding the party leaders and supporters for their courage in the face of intimidation, saying that their perseverance has shown that the party has a future with them.

Charging the party members to further stand firm and be patient for a little longer, Pa Iyiola reiterated that Aregbesola knew how to compensate people, who were in the struggle with him.

“Let me, on behalf of our party chairman, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and others salute your courage and perseverance in the face of intimidation. We value your contribution to the development of this party and let me assure you that our symbol, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola knows how to pay back those who are in the struggle with him and so he is with you always”, said Pa. Iyiola.

When he rose to talk, Awofisayo rendered a tune which electrified the hall that was filled to its capacity, before launching into his speech.

The Ife-born prince began with the state of the nation, noting that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has eventually pushed itself to the edge via its lust for power. He demanded to know why the ailing President Umar Musa Yar’ Adua could not transmit power to his deputy.

Noting that the duo were from the same party and they could still not trust one another with power, saying that such was the fate befalling the PDP now, asking audience if that was the kind of political association that could liberate the masses, to which all chorused no!

Reflecting on the state of affairs in Osun State , Awofisayo noted that there was an absence of governance in the state, submitting that what Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was presiding over in the state was not government, but a passing phase that could be described as locust years.

Delivering Aregbesola’s message, Awofisayo said the Ilesa-born colourful politician, who has brought novelty into Osun politics would have loved to meet them in person if not for the exigency of the situation, saying that whatever transpired at the meeting would be discussed with Aregbesola in Lagos .

Disclosing the programmme of Aregbesola for the people of Ile Ife, Awofisayo said he was privy to the plan of the AC flagbearer about the blueprint to turn around the cradle city, informing the audience that through tourism alone, Aregbesola would be generating close to N18 billion with 18 months on the saddle.

“If there is one man to salute for taking the interest of Ile Ife seriously, it is Aregbesola, because I was in the know of a blueprint on tourism alone that could generate not less than N18billion and the beautification of the cradle city should provide means of livelihood to the greater number of indigenes”, Awofisayo stressed.

Tasking the leaders and members in the council area to give peace a chance, Awofisayo reiterated that the party is weathering a storm in so many fronts, noting that the enemies against the party were formidable because of their financial chest, saying that only good ideology and love of the masses were the saving grace keeping the party intact, reiterating that the battle at the retrial election petition tribunal was another phase of the struggle against the impostor and oppressors in Osun State.

Calling the party members to settle their differences in peace and through dialogue, saying that if the party members start fighting one another, the enemies would permeate and break them and the result of their struggle would be in vain.

He said: “We could not afford to be living in a divided house and so Aregbesola asked me to charge you on the need to maintain peace. Our symbol of hope also wants all hands to be on deck, because God has answered our prayer”.

Speaking on Aregbesola’s petition at the tribunal, the Pharmacist submitted that with the evidence at the disposal of the tribunal as ordered by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan , Oyo State early last year, there would be cause to smile at the end of the day.

The following day, the news of the visitation of the Oranmiyan chief to the Ife East council area had gotten to the party leaders and members at Ife South and that seemed to have facilitated the larger turn-out of the AC members in the council area.

Alighting from his vehicle together with some state leaders of the party, Prince Awofisayo was heralded to the venue of the meeting with fanfare just like it was obtained in Ife East and on getting to the platform; different political songs rendered by the women wing of the party electrified the hall.

Opening the floor, the Zonal Secretary, Mr. Fatai Owoyomi who stood-in for the Deputy State Chairman of the party lauded the members of the party for their turn-out, observing that the party leaders in the state were happy with them in Ife South.

Asking the members to continue in their loyalty to the party, noting that there would be enough to share for all active members at the end of the struggle, Owoyomi said that the flag bearer of the party has designed a strategy to make life comfortable for tall and sundry.

“Engr. Rauf Aregbesola has proved to be a blessing to our party, our struggle and our hope in Osun State ; he would love to see you all to be more active and more participatory in the struggle to liberate Osun State . So, please continue to support our party and stand firm on your loyalty”,Owoyemi stressed.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Prince Awofisayo demanded to know why the Federal Government controlled PDP could not fix the epileptic power supply bedeviling the nation, saying that lack of commitment of the ruling party to the improved welfare package of the masses was the sole purpose that could have propelled the wickedness of the party.

Charging the party members and supporters to work against the PDP in future elections, saying that if the ruling party was made to continue bulldozing its way to the corridors of power, the masses would continue to suffer.

“Let us begin the analysis of our problem of power. The only thing I figure out that has not really brought steady power supply to us is sheer lack of commitment to our improved welfare package and that must therefore compell us to work against these people with all our strength to prevent them from the corridor of power, otherwise, average man on the street would continue to suffer”, Awofisayo insisted.

Relating the message of Aregbesola to the people of Ife South, Awofisayo said that the council area would be a prime beneficiary of the Aregbesola’s welfare programme, saying that the council area, as an agrarian community, would benefit from the production of food and agro-allied industries of the new order, asking the party members to continue maintaining their loyalty.

He said: “Aregbesola has a blueprint, which touches large-scale agriculture and massive production of food supply and I know that Ife-South Local Government Council Area is an agrarian society and it I am of the opinion that Aregbesola would make use of this place, but your loyalty matters in the scheme of things in the party.”

Landing at Ife North Local Government Council Area, the AC chapter was more than ready for the arrival of Awofisayo’s train and the local drummers that heralded the Aregbesola’s man to the venue of the meeting at Yakoyo testified to the reality of the party faithful’s readiness.

At a hall filled to its capacity, the State Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Muraina Iyiola, who hails from the council area, showed his gratitude to Aregbesola for sending the calibre of Awofisayo to the people, saying that the message should be well-taken by the party leaders in the local and the state levels.

Speaking on the patience of the party loyalists, Pa. Iyiola noted that the spirit behind the building of progressive party was the love of the masses in the heart of the founding fathers, saying that the only way the party could be stronger was the faith of the members in it.

Urging the party faithful to stand firm in the struggle, noting that despite the stealing in high places in the state, the members and leaders of the AC were still on top of their situation.

“They believe in stealing our money to fund their party, but despite that, we are still better-off than them. So, it is hope and commitment to good governance that keep party alive”, Pa Iyiola reiterated.

When he rose to speak, Awofisayo saluted the courage of the party members, promising them that their loyalty to the party would be tabled before Aregbesola.

The Oramiyan Group President further disclosed that Ife North would not be left out in the scheme of things if Aregbesola regains his mandate, saying that interest of the council area was in the mind of the Ijesa-born politician.

“We are encouraged by your support and turn-out today and I promise to tell my boss in Lagos that Ife North area is wonderful in all respect. Of course I know that our governor-in-waiting, God’s willing has his heart with you all and your contribution to the party’s building would be discussed extensively with him.

Giving hope on the petition at the election petition retrial tribunal, Awofisayo in blue guinea brocade with a cap to match said that with the way Aregbesola packaged his evidence at the tribunal, the decision may be favourable in line with the submission of the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan , Oyo State .

He said: “Aregbesola has brought glamour and novelty to Osun politics via his forensic evidence and superb legal team that has given a good fight to the impostor in the state and I can tell you that with the way we are conducting our case we will win”.

Responding, an octogenarian Barrister Bisi Amusan thanked the leadership of the party for making the visitation possible, asking the leaders of the party to mandate the elected members of the party to be attending meetings of the party in their respective places.

It was a different ball game at Ife-Central Local Government Council Area chapter of the party, as the turnout of party members at the Oduduwa College venue of the meeting, was amazing, for the four walls of the central hall was sweating with the overloaded capacity it witnessed.

Addressing members of the party, the state Deputy Chairman , Pa. Iyiola charged them to be up and doing, saying that the time of redemption has approached, given the diligent prosecution of the petition of Aregbesola at the tribunal.

In his speech, Awofisayo lauded the members of the party for the turnout, commending them for their courage and steadfastness, saying that with the programme of action of Aregbesola in Ile Ife, the people of the city should prepare to celebrate the victory of Aregbesola soon.

“Ile Ife is my home and I am a prince of the source, as a result, I was privy to the plan of Aregbesola for Ile Ife and I know that the plan to transform the city was of high magnitude. So, prepare to celebrate the victory of our symbol, God’s willing soon”, stressed Awofisayo.

In fact, the tour of the Ife zone of AC was a big success in all its ramifications.

By goke butika

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