Amosun's Former Associates Return To ACN

In an atmosphere tinged with emotion and fellow-feeling, the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun this evening received some of his former political associates into the ruling party in the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

They had come to the Oke- Mosan, Government House, Abeokuta to congratulate Amosun on his victory at the last election and express their willingness to join him in the ruling party in the state, the ACN to rebuild the state.

According to the governor, “our people have come to visit us, I have no illusion that our being here today is by the benevolence of the Almighty God. Power belongs to God. Thank God, we have all seen the light, we are with the people. All my life, I have always wanted to be with the people. ACN is the people’s party; we are progressive-minded, the interest of our people is always paramount to us.”

Governor Amosun then counselled the returnees to talk more about things that would unite the people of the state, and not those that will divide them.

The governor who sounded philosophical, said: “office is not an end, people have been here before, and we will also not be here someday. It should not be about us but the interest of the people. I want to leave this place being more loved by the people of Ogun State.”

Earlier in his address, the leader of the 22-man delegation who came from all the 20 local government councils of the state, Dr D.S. Odemuyiwa, expressed his delight about the giant strides taken so far by Governor Amosun and pledged their loyalty to the new administration.

“We want full and complete integration into the ruling party in Ogun State, the ACN,” Dr. Odemuyiwa said.

The party’s Organising Secretary in the state, Chief Wole Adesiji, responded on behalf of the party leaders to the request of the returnees, saying, “though you parted with us for some minor reasons, you are welcome on board.”

The party cautioned the returnees against unnecessary groupings and factions, reminding them that anyone coming into ACN must, “pass through the immigration, that is, start from the ward level to the top”.

Governor Amosun had earlier met briefly with the ACN leaders, offering reasons for bringing in some technocrats into his government.

“If I knew these people, it should have been a different story, but we brought them in so that they could assist us and in the end, it is the ACN that will take the glory for our success,” the governor said.

The party’s re-union was witnessed by the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Surajudeen Ishola Adekunbi, some members of the state Executive Council and the governorship candidate of the NCP during the 2007 election, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo.

By Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta