The newly appointed Acting Chairman of Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Elder Sunday Olatunde Akanfe (Atidade) on Monday assumed office with a vow to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress at the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The Acting Chairman, in an address he personally signed and released, a copy of which was made available to AMILOADED called for the support and cooperation of leaders, stakeholders and members of the party in order to rescue the state from the APC administration.
Atilade accused the APC administration of dragging the state to wanton indebtedness adding that the party has failed the people of Osun.
Here is the full address of Atilade:
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF OSUN STATE CHAPTER OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY ELDER SUNDAY OLATUNDE AKANFE (ATIDADE) ON THE OCCASION OF THE FORMAL ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE TODAY MONDAY 11TH MAY 2020.
It Is Honorable To Lead, It Is More Honorable To Serve.
Great members and leaders of our party, gentlemen of the press, I welcome you all who are able to make it down to this place as a matter of duty to our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party. I understand the issue of rampaging Covid-19 pandemic has made it impossible to have a full house as may be desired by our people. I’m sure this strange time shall pass and we will all blossom again in our daily and political activities. May the Almighty hands of God continue to keep us alive.
As we are all aware, my leadership in Osun State Chapter of PDP at this time, is borne out of internal workings of the party. It is a duty I cannot lobby to undertake, it is a duty I cannot lawfully reject as well. As a baby of circumstance, I cannot pray the cup to pass over me because the cup has no where else to fall constitutionally except on my head. It is a fate I cannot wave away according to the laws governing the party and our legal engagement as elected members of the state working committee of the party since two years ago.
Gentlemen and party faithful in Osun State, those of you who know me inside out can attest to the fact that I don’t joke with assignments fate brings my way at any point in time. I want to say this is no exception as well. I am not unaware of the daunting task ahead of us as leaders and members of the party, but I’m also not unaware of the success we can achieve when we work together with focus, peace and harmony.
Working with focus will however entail strict discipline as supported by the letters of our party constitution. Party members must be ready to submit ourselves to the ethos of a party wanting to rescue Osun State. It is impossible to make a headway while we work at cross purposes.
Henceforth, I will work with various organs of the party including essential Directorates to plant the seed, water and nurture our message of task, the “Operation Rescue Osun State”.
The State Working Committee led by my humble self will work with local government and ward party executives to ensure the mission is not lost at any point in time or to any dotted lines of distractions. The pathway to success are often challenging but are surely not impassible. We must win to rescue and this must be our focus.
As this juncture, I appeal to all stakeholders of our party in the state, experienced leaders of repute, political office holders at different levels to rejig their commitment to the cause of the PDP in Osun state. The time is now to rally round the party with your wealth of experience and your good offices. On my part, I have met with a number of our leaders and this I will continue to to do to advance the cause of the party. It is my belief that a tree does not make a forest.
The mantle of administrative leadership of the party may have fallen on me, but working as a team has become more expedient to meet the yearnings of the good people of Osun state. I enjoin our leaders to be ready to lead with unflinching mind of service. As the main opposition party in the state, it is good to lead the teeming army of our people to the battle ahead, but our common goal will be more enhanced when we are ready to serve as leaders.
We should be mindful of agitations of our youths for impactful results from our actions. My interactions with a number of them in the last couple of days have left me with no doubt they are eager to dispense their energy, professionalism and expertise in various fields to help the party. All they need is the assurance of our steadfastness as leaders. We must therefore conduct the affairs of this party with openness, accountability and probity. We cannot afford to fail.
To the ruling party in the state, I want to say that the die is cast. The moment of truth is here. Your dubious and unprofitable stranglehold on the state is enough. The good people of Osun State have watched you struggled with various forms of lies and fraud in the past ten years. We have seen your best of indebtedness. We have seen your best of dancing on a spot. Your time is up.
I thank you for your attention.
Long live Osun PDP,
Long live Osun State,
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Elder Sunday Olatunde Akanfe (Atidade)
Acting Chairman,
Peoples’ Democratic Party.
Osun State.
Leave a Reply