2023: Ex-Commissioner, Omodewu heads Oyo APC

Late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Isaac Omodewu, has been inaugurated as chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Oyo State.

Omodewu, was last Thursday inaugurated alongside other 34 state chairmen by Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

The inaugurated state chairmen emerged from the state congresses conducted nationwide in October 2021 with many of the states witnessed parallel congresses.

With this political development, the Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of State for Labour and Productivity Festus Keyamo, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among others have lost structures in their home states

Some of the states with parallel congresses inluded; Kwara, Osun, Delta, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Oyo, Niger, among others which were yet to amicably resolved before Thursday’s inauguration.

However, Kano and Sokoto states were conspicuously missing on the list.

The inaugurated state chairmen are ; Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu (Abia), Alh Ibrahim Bilal (Adamawa), Mr Augustine Enefiok Ekanem (Akwa Ibom), Hon Basil Ejike (Anambra), Alh Babayo Aliyu Misau (Bauchi), Dr. Dennis Otiotio (Bayelsa), Mr Augustine Agada (Benue), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno), and Mr. Alphonsus Orgar Eba Esq. (Cross River).

Elder Omeni Sabotie (Delta), Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha (Ebonyi), retired Col David Imuse (Edo), Barr. Omotosho Paul Ayodele (Ekiti), Chief Ogochukwu Agballah (Enugu), Mr Nitte K Amangal (Gombe), Dr Macdonald Ebere (Imo), Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel (Jigawa), Air Cdre Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd) (Kaduna), Alh. Muhammed Sani (Katsina), Alh. Abubakar Muhammed Kana (Kebbi) and Hon. Abdullahi Bello (Kogi) were also presented certificates of return.

Others include Prince Sunday Adeniran Fagbemi (Kwara), Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos), Mr John D Mamman (Nasarawa), Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro (Niger), Chief Yemi Sanusi (Ogun), Engr Ade Adetimehin (Ondo), Prince Adegboyega Famodun (Osun), Hon Isaac Omodewu (Oyo), Hon Rufus Bature (Plateau), Chief Emeka Bekee (Rivers). Hon Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (Taraba), Alh Muhammed A. Gadaka (Yobe), Alh. Tukur Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) and Alh. Abdulmalik Usman (FCT).

While iaugurating the 34-state chairmen at the national secretariat of APC, Governor Buni, who was represented by the national secretary, John James Akpanudoedehe, congratulated the new state APC leaders.

Akpanudoedehe said: “I have been asked to issue you certificate of return as duly elected chairmen of your states.”

Speaking on behalf chairmen, Chairman of the APC state chairmen Forum, Alhaji Bukar Dalori, expressed gratitude to the Buni-led National Caretaker Committee.

Accorting to Borno state chairman, Buni has led APC “with an unimpeachable commitment to move the party forward and carrying all members and leaders along.

“In the last few months, we have witnessed leadership finesse in the manner party affairs are conducted. There is no doubt that Your Excellency has brought your experience to bear in piloting the affairs of our great party.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the limitations associated with it, your practical ingenuity to still mobilize people to join the party will go down memory lane as being uncharacteristically magnificent. We remember vividly how all the Committees, especially the Women and Youths Mobilization Committee led by Governor Yahaya Bello deployed the media to market our party to millions of Nigerians. APC is indeed blessed with great leaders.

“On behalf of my colleagues, we wish to pledge our unalloyed loyalty to the leadership of Your Excellency and to assure you that we are all behind you all the way as your achievements have shown your sterling qualities.

“You are a great example to all of us and in the next few weeks, we shall be learning from you, the magic that brought Governors and other political bulldozers to the party.

“There was a joke among party members that when you see Governor Mai Mala Buni with an opposition leader, APC is about to witness an influx. How you do it without noise, makes it even more commendable. It is in the interest of all party leaders and members to give you the deserved support. You are a blessing to our party.”