National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that the influx of defectors into the APC will not pose any damage to the party’s image.
He said this yesterday at the Government House in Ibadan during a condolence visit to the family of the late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugbade 1.
The former Lagos State governor, extolling the virtures of Oba Odulana, who passed on last week, also spoke on the nation’s economy
Tinubu said, “A human being must be able to associate and join any political party he or she wants, so you cannot stop them, or discriminate against them. If any member of a party is coming into APC and he is discriminated upon, it will be unfair.”
“A good political party must be tolerant, accommodating to any member of a party coming into APC as long as they do not import corruption and injustice into our party. It is necessary for us to be tolerant and that is why APC is welcoming them into the party and we shall not discriminate against them.”
On the dwindling oil price, he said there are variables in the oil sector which the government needs to look critically at.
He further said, ”We are not the only country affected; it is universal. We have to manage ourselves, challenge ourselves and be more creative in a way it will not affect the welfare of the people because government is about the people.”
“We should also be innovative and develop our economy in such a way that will show the leadership position that we always espouse in Africa. Now and years back, we have been talking about diversification of the oil sector but it has always been on the drawing note and we never implemented it.”
“There are so many ways to revitalise this economy. It is not as bad as people make it appear. The past is nauseating and there has never been a principle of good governance. We have to support and encourage this administration in its struggle against insurgency, because if you do not clear terrorism, foreign investors will not come in. We also need to support the administration to fight kidnapping of expatriates and many of our citizens. Nigerians also need to be patient with the administration to revatalise the economy. “
During the visit, Tinubu was accompanied by Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Oyo Speaker, Michael Adeyemo; former interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande; National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure; state Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, among others.
They were received by the Olubadan-in council, led by the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun and Otun Balogun, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin and the children of the late foremost traditional ruler, led by Prof. Femi Lana.
Tinubu said Oba Odulana did not hide his support for the Ajimobi-led administration’s urban renewal and operation clean-up Ibadan; a city, he said, was dotted with heaps of refuse before Ajimobi mounted the saddle.
“Our late Baba lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation by our traditional institution. He was fearless, courageous and incorruptible. We are proud of his spartan lifestyle and discipline.”
“Kabiyesi loved Ajimobi and I can say that he was one of his staunch backers for the governorship ticket. His support for the governor and his programmes, especially the urban renewal and cleanliness we are now witnessing in Ibadan, was without bounds.”
“Ibadan was full of filth and heaps of refuse before Ajimobi became governor, but he cleaned up the city. Kabiyesi was so impressed by this, just as many of us, that he conferred the title of Atunluse on Ajimobi. We are proud of the governor’s achievements.”
Tinubu was delighted at the agelong seamless Olubadan of Ibadanland succession process, which, he said, would have been a worthy model for political succession, but for what he called the intrigues and do-or-die phenomenon introduced into the country’s politics.
The Otun Olubadan said the Olubadan-in-council and the people of Ibadan felt highly honoured for the visit, adding that the council was proud of Ajimobi and his support for the palace before and after the death of the Olubadan.
Balogun said it was “heartwarming” that Oba Odulana was on the throne and died when “the son of the soil” (an Ibadan indigene) was the governor.”
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