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Fashola Urges Vigilance, Rededication To Progressive Ideals As AC Holds Pre-Convention Lecture

Dec 10, 2009 - As the Action Congress prepares for its National convention billed for the Onikan Stadium on Saturday, the State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday charged the party members to rededicate themselves to the ideals of progressivism which constitute the fundamental roots of the party.

Governor Fashola who spoke at a Pre-Convention lecture of the ruling party in Lagos State delivered by veteran journalist and Chairman, Nigerian Media Merit Award, Alhaji Alade Odunewu (OFR) titled “The Press, Governance and the People’s Mandate” which was held at the All Season Plaza, Agidingbi added that the Convention provides an ample opportunity for the members to reunite.

The Governor explained that the expectation of the people rest more on the leadership which the Action Congress provides for them and has resultantly placed enormous burden of expectation on the party, adding: “Each time history has beckoned on us, we have turned our backs”.

“This time around under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our other leaders, we will confront history. We will demonstrate that blackmen can take responsibility for their affairs and liberate themselves from the shackles of poverty”.

“We should all be vigilant. There are no contests. We know our leaders and we respect them. Those who think we are fighting are dreaming. If they don’t wake up, the development of Lagos will pass them by”, Governor Fashola declared.

He reiterated that he and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly as well as the 39 members of the State House of Assembly have already signed on to provide purposeful leadership to the people.

He explained that the conceptualization of an idea of a pre-convention lecture clearly signals out a difference in what characterizes a new march for party politics in Nigeria which represents the style of the Action Congress.

Governor Fashola emphasized that a pre-convention lecture to debate serious issues of national development clearly reinforces that Action Congress is a party of ideas and the party to beat, adding that it should be a permanent feature of all Conventions.

The Lagos State Governor said it shows clearly that the founding fathers of this party will not seek political office for aggrandizement but for improving the lots of Nigerians who look up to them for guidance, direction and for expectation.

Said he: “I belief that we have the capacity and intellectual integrity to debate any other position on the issue of national development. I belief the content of our manifesto very much underscore the seriousness of leadership that our party offers”.

While recalling a question posed to him by someone Wednesday on the fact that the State does not reflect the Millennium Development Goals in its programmes, Governor Fashola said: “We implement a party idea that is ahead of the Millennium Development Goal. We consider that MDGs should be the minimum for any party that seeks to lead this nation”.

“It is not acceptable to benchmark by a date. It must become a way of life. Our MDGs are the 1o point agenda built since 1999 by people of Lagos under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and so many of my colleagues like Engineer Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Henry Ajomale. That is our bible”, Governor Fashola declared.

In his lecture, Alhaji Odunewu posited that, “We must emphasize that the right to know underpins the sublime objective of the media to provide credible intelligence that would assist the people to hold the political leadership accountable as well as foster equity in the polity”.

He added that the promulgation of the Access to Information Act by Parliament is crucial to the wider objective of the right to know as well as reducing or eliminating graft in the society.

He submitted that for Nigeria’s democracy to blossom, the electoral laws must be strengthened with the mechanism for speedy resolution of electoral disputes being ensured.

He observed that it is scandalous that over 12 months after national and state elections, disputes arising from the polls are yet to be sorted out.

He also warned that to avoid calamity and utter disaster no one should attempt to conduct elections in the country in 2011 with the discredited instruments of year 2007, adding that the old order must be dismantled paving way for a more transparent change of baton if peace is desired in the country.

In his contribution, a leader of the Action Congress, Chief Olatunji Hamzat said rotational structure is the only way that has allowed every part of the country to have a shot at the highest post in the land and has been very helpful.

However, while also contributing, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba called for the adoption of the Modified Open Ballot System otherwise known as Option A4 in all elections in Nigeria, noting that it is the only panacea to free and fair elections.

Chief Osoba said the success recorded by Professor Humphrey Nwosu in terms of the 1992 elections that produced Chief M.K.O Abiola succeeded because it was conducted through the Open Modified Ballot System or Option A4 system.

The lecture was attended by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, RT Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Governor of Osun State and Chairman of the Action Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State, Governorship Candidates in Ekiti and Osun States, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Engineer Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary, Dr Usman Bugaje and several party leaders from all the States of the federation.