The All Progressives Congress, United Kingdom (APC UK) held a private meeting with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately after his speech at Chatham House on Monday, 5th December 2022 accompanied by a high-powered delegation and dignitaries from Nigeria.
According to Jacob Ogunseye, the Publicity Secretary of the APC UK chapter, the private meeting was held next door to Chatham House at the prestigious ClubHouse located at No. 8, St. James’s Square as a gesture for Supporters of Asiwaju who couldn’t get a pass to access Chatham House had in attendance the movers and shakers of the political class seating with the in-coming President on the High Table like Rt Hon. Gbajabiamila Speaker of House of Representative; His Excellency Dr Kayode Fayemi, immediate past Governor of Ekiti State; Ogun State Governor H. E. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State; Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State; Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State; DG Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, APC PCC; Gov. David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State; Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole; and Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman.
Other important dignitaries at the shindig are Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Hon. Femi Pedro former Deputy Governor to Asiwaju; Hon. Dele Alake; Mr Tunde Rahman; Dr Betta Edu, APC National Women Leader and Hajia Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, APC National Deputy Women Leader.
During the interactive session, Asiwaju encouraged Diasporans to always show interest in the politics of their fatherland and assured them that his government will look into the issue of Diaspora Voting and in Asiwaju’s typical ubiquitous style which seemed like he read the anticipation of the audience, he further gave an assurance that even if Diasporans cannot vote presently, it doesn’t stop them being appointed into government positions of their competence. This elicited thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the audience. In a nutshell, Jagaban held his audience in awe with his satirical comments.
J K Adebola, Chairman APC UK Presidential Campaign Council and member of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Committee of APC PCC who read the welcome address eulogised Asiwaju and reeled out his traits which he said endeared him to Nigerians at home and abroad as well as his vision for Nigeria as expounded in his Action Plan titled Renewed Hope 2023 and enjoined Nigerians to obtain a copy, read and digest the content to keep themselves abreast of what Asiwaju’s government portends for the Country and its citizens scattered across the globe.
The Chairman of APC UK PCC also reeled out his Campaign Council’s activities which includes the procurement of a Helium Balloon emblazoned with pictures of Tinubu and Shettima on it which was flown at the flag-off of the APC Presidential Campaign in Jos and Lagos; the Town hall event held on Saturday 26th November 2022 at the prestigious Holiday Inn Express at Greenwich Peninsula, London.
J K Adebola further disclosed to the house that just as APC UK 4 Aketi Council did at the last gubernatorial election in Ondo State, in the run-up to the elections in 2023, APC UK PCC will conduct a mass SMS Campaign to reach about 20 million voters in Nigeria across the 6 geo-political zones in the 3 major languages in the Country with targeted messages educating the electorates to vote right by voting for Tinubu/Shettima and APC.
He concluded his welcome address that as the elections of 2023 draw closer, there is no better time than now for us in the Diaspora to demonstrate our importance to the politics and development of Nigeria. We will continue to engage with Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora about the benefits of voting for the man wey sabi road to enjoy the dividends of democracy that the Presidency of Jagaban promises to provide to Nigerians.
Prince Ade Omole, Director of Diaspora Directorate in his address which he delivered Ad-lib informed the house that he considers it a privilege that the very first leg of the campaigns outside the shores of Nigeria of our principal and APC Presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is being commenced in the UK. He then implored all of Asiwaju’s supporters and well-wishers in the United Kingdom, to see this visit as a privilege because there are many cities around the world with equally significant Asiwaju’s supporters that the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) could have picked for the commencement of our candidate’s foreign campaigns.
He added that it is therefore against this backdrop of having been accorded this privilege that the onus is now on us as Progressives and supporters of Asiwaju who are residents in the United Kingdom to redouble our efforts in making sure that our Party’s Presidential candidate win the February 2023 election.
Prince Ade Omole went further to say winning this election is extremely important not only because the stakes are high as to the trajectory that Nigeria must pursue towards her manifest destiny, but also because this is a different kind of sport in which you and I are the real players that will be on the field on February 25th and not Asiwaju. We should, therefore, see this win as not everything but the ONLY thing. Thus says the late Vince Lombardi, an American football coach.
He reminded Diasporans that our run of play on this game involves two strategic approaches; one approach is for those of us who can vote in Nigeria to prepare ourselves to be in our respective wards a few days before the match to exercise our voting franchise. The other is the serious mobilisation of our dependents such as Children and wards, Fathers and Mothers, Nephews and Nieces, and others whom we have some influence over to vote for our principal. This is what I call the “Each One, Reach Five” approach.
He further touched on the fact that our material support to further enhance this campaign in all its facets is still much needed.
He noted that with the serious commitment that Diasporans have demonstrated even before our principal won the primary election, I have no doubt in my mind that you’re now more committed to the cause of Asiwaju winning this trophy come Saturday, February 25, 2023.
He concluded that I, therefore, do not doubt that victory shall be ours on this day.
During the interactive session, Hon. Ifeoma “Iyabode” Nwachukwu praised Asiwaju for his policy of inclusiveness whilst the Governor of Lagos by reaching far and wide in giving opportunities to other ethnicities to serve in his cabinet and how Lagos State has maintained that policy to date. She added that not many States in Nigeria have such policy which he pioneered.
The UK leg of Asiwaju’s campaign ended with an after-party where the incoming President and Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole had a dancing competition grooving to the globally popular Buga song. The jury is still out on who won the duel between the two dancing gladiators.
The UK leg of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign came to an end on a high. The next stop is the victory party after the 2023 elections.
