Former Ogun State governors, Gbenga Daniel and his successor, Ibikunle Amosun, stayed away from the strategic meeting of the All Progressives Congress convened to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
Past governors and deputy governors, serving and former senators, party leaders from the National Working Committee, former commissioners, and other APC stalwarts across the state attended the meeting, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.
Gbenga Daniel currently represents Ogun East Senatorial District in the Red Chamber, was governor of the state from May 29, 2003, to May 29, 2011, succeeding Olusegun Osoba.
Amosun, on the other hand, served as governor of the state from 2011 to 2019 and also represented Ogun Central Senatorial District in the Senate.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, in his speech on the occasion, commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, describing them as brave choices that saved Nigeria’s economy from collapse and set the nation on a path to long-term prosperity.
Abiodun said Tinubu’s numerous policy changes have helped return Nigeria to a path of profitability, sustainable development, and growth, adding that he deserves to be given another four-year term beyond 2027.
Abiodun said, “At a time when the economy had severely nosedived, our president rose with courage, conviction, and clarity to take hard but necessary decisions aimed at repositioning Nigeria for sustainable development.
“Many of us thought fuel subsidy was the worst burden, but in reality, the foreign exchange subsidy, the multiple exchange rate system, was the biggest monster. On May 29, 2023, Mr President removed both, and that marked the beginning of genuine reforms.”
He therefore urged party members to reaffirm their trust in the President’s capacity to further lead the nation to greater heights.
“It is therefore bold, befitting, and strategic to endorse the president for another four-year term for the consolidation and continuity of his courageous government until 2031,” he added.
Speaking on party unity, the Ogun Governor said he was pleased with the turnout at the strategy meeting, describing it as evidence of the APC’s strength, unity and relevance.
Also speaking, former governor Olusegun Osoba noted that no past president had shown as much courage as President Tinubu in demonstrating readiness to face the consequences of his economic reforms.
He stressed that Tinubu has performed well and deserves support for another term.
Osoba further noted that as a result of these reforms, the government now has more resources to cater to the masses.
But he lamented that people at the grassroots have yet to feel the impact of the freed resources and urged state governors to address the challenge.
Osoba said, “However, I must admit that our people at the grassroots are yet to feel the impact of these reforms, and here is where I will appeal to our governors to please address this challenge.
“No president has been as courageous as President Tinubu in facing the consequences of his economic reforms. He has done well and deserves to be supported for another four-year term to further take the nation to greater heights.”
