° Says Repete Will Perform Excellently When Elected
The Coalition of Progressive Youths (COPY) has commended the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, South West Governors and other stakeholders who played significant role to achieve the zoning of National Vice Chairman (South West) to Oyo State.
The group in its endorsement letter for the candidacy of Hon. Bolaji Afeez Repete signed by its convener, Comrade Olanrewaju Oloja said the former Deputy Youth Leader of the party will perform excellently when elected at the National Vice Chairman (South West).
“We are Coalition of Progressives Youth (COPY), the umbrella body of all youths that are members of our great party: the All Progressives Congress. The body comprises of all the youths in the party, irrespective of their social class in the society.
“As you are aware, the convention of our great party, the All Progressives Congress has been fixed for this weekend, 26th March, 2022, at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. We are glad that after several times of postponement, the convention is becoming a reality.
“Our dear state, Oyo, is the state in the South Western part of the country that recorded the highest number of winning margins for our party during the 2015 presidential election. We not only deliver the state for the party, we also made history: we returned a sitting Governor for another four-year term, had all the Senators from the state in the party, controlled the House of Assembly and had more than half of the representatives in the lower chamber of the National Assembly: a feat that has not been replicated by any political party in the state.
“However, we could not manage the successes recorded in the 2015 election and it tell on the result we could show during the 2019 election: we not only lost the presidential election, but also become an opposition party in the state! Between 2019 general election and now, we have lost leaders of the party: those who are supposed to be the major rallying point for us in the state to the cold hands of death; we pray that God repose their souls. In what better way could the party in the region identify with us, than to micro-zone the national secretariat of the party to us in Oyo state. It would have been a rallying point for us to prosecute the 2023 general election, and return the state to the path of progressivism.
“It was therefore, with mixed feelings we received the decision of the Governors and leaders of the party in the region, that the office of the National Vice Chairman (South West) has been micro-zoned to our dear pacesetter state. While we would have appreciated the National Secretary position more, we are glad that our dear state will be having a National Working Committee (NWC) position: the first time this would be happening; since the formation of this great party of ours in 2014.
” It was good news to us, when we got to know that Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, a former student leader, ex-SA (Youths & Sports) in our dear state, and a former Deputy National Youth Leader of our party has shown interest by obtaining nomination form for the position. This, to us, has shown that the younger generations are not afraid to participate actively in governance. In fact, we are of the opinion that his decision to join the race, and his eventual emergence, would show the world that our party is concerned about youth inclusion in governance.
“Before going further, we use this medium to appreciate the support of our National Leader, the Jagaban Borgu; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Your support to this course has gone a long way, to show that you belief in the youth of this country. We have no doubt that Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete will perform excellently in this new role, when elected. We also appreciate the support of leaders and major stakeholders of the party in the region, most especially the Governors of Lagos: His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-olu; Ogun: His Excellency Dapo Abiodun, and Osun state: His Excellency Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola. Your supports, your excellencies, has shown that you not only belief in the youth of this country by mere words, but with actions toward ensuring that the region bring out her best eleven for the journey ahead.
“We hereby appeal to the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’Forum, His Excellency John Kayode Fayemi, and his Ondo counterpart; a distinguished product of Loyola College, Ibadan Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN)) to key into this youthful agenda. We have no doubt that you have the love of the youths of this country at heart, and that you will always support the course of the younger generations, especially when competent youths show interest in governance.
” For the record, Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete has distinguished himself and teach us, the younger generations, the true meaning of loyalty. Shall we remind doubting thomases, that Hon. Repete resigned his membership of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, so that his leader; our leader; Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi of blessed memory could pick up the vacant position of the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party. How best can we reward loyalty of this young man, other than support him at this critical period in the history of our party? We have no doubt that our leader, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi would be happy with this aspiration of one of his loyal followers.
” We, as a well-respected group in the party, throw our weight behind this aspiration of one our leading light in the state, Afeez Bolaji Repete. We have no doubt that he is prepared for challenges ahead, if trusted with the position he currently aspires for. It will not only unify the leaders, but also gives us, the youths, a sense of belonging in the party. His aspiration symbolizes the aspiration of the generality of the youths and we believe that if trusted with this sensitive position, he will not only deliver as expected, but also strengthen the party in the region, as we move towards 2023 general election.
“At this critical period, when the sorosoke generation are yearning for youthful governance across boards, there is no better time to let them know that we as a party recognize their importance, than trusting them with critical positions. We should not forget that the sorosoke generation has the highest voting power that the party can capitalize on during election. Hon. Repete emergence will bridge the generational gap between the youthful generation that crave for radical change in governance, and the older generation.
“We hereby appeal passionately to our delegates who would be going down to convention ground, to please support and vote Hon. Afeez Bolaji Repete, as the National Vice Chairman (South West) of our great party; the All Progressives Congress. He has done it before, and he will never let us down”.
