Kunle Adelabu
-State party Chairman eulogises Lagos East, Ikorodu
The State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, ratified the appointment of the former two – term Chairman of Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Adeola Muhydeen Jokomba, as the acting Secretary of the party in Lagos State.
Jokomba was immediately sworn – in, in that capacity at the party’s secretariat hall at ACME, Ikeja, Lagos, with leadership and members of the party in attendance.
THE IMPACT had, on August 20, 2023, reported that the chieftains of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the APC ratified Hon. Jokomba as the State Secretary of the party, to replace Hon. Olanrewaju Sunmi Odesanya who was appointed as a Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu.
The State Chairman of APC, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, explaining the process, commended the leadership of the Lagos East Senatorial of the APC, for their contributions to the development of the party.
He said that the Senatorial District’s contributions to the party resulted in the former Council Chairman, Jokomba, replacing the immediate past Secretary of the party.
“This small occasion is in honour of those that have worked so hard for the party. Our dear brother, Adeola Jokomba, has seen it all, and it is for him that we are gathered here today”, Pastor Ojelabi said.
“I hope that our party in Lagos West Senatorial District, will learn one or two lessons from what is happening. The way and manner that the East and the Central Senatorial Districts have been running the affairs of our party in Lagos State, they deserve serious appreciation
“We are not here to flatter you. You have taken the running of our party in East Senatorial District as a serious business, and you are very passionate about it and you are equally blessed that you have people of like minds like our dear brother, Otunba who will go all out to spend his personal money for the success of our party when it comes to elections. We appreciate you and we cannot thank you enough.
“To our people from the East Senatorial District, you have done very well and you have demonstrated your commitment and loyalty to our party. This is what resulted in the appointment of our dear brother, Adeola Jokomba, and the ratification of this appointment today at the State Working Committee of our party”, State APC Chairman explained.
The party chieftain further explained that the party followed the provision of its Constitution in ratifying and inaugurating the new State’s party Scribe.
“In line with the Constitution of our party, when we have this type of vacancy, we just have to go for a mini – congress pending the time when we have the larger congress, because that position must not be vacant. This necessitated what we did this afternoon and as the Chairman of the party, I want to announce to you that, with the power conferred on the State Working Committee of our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), we have graciously approved the appointment of Hon. Jokomba Adeola as the acting State Secretary of our party”, Pastor Ojelabi said.
“We followed the process of mini congress as outlined by the constitution of our party in doing this”.
He commended the leadership of the party in Lagos East for the choice of Jokomba as the State Secretary of the APC.
While singling out the leadership and members of the APC in Ikorodu, for commendations for its consistent support for the party, Pastor Ojelabi said that the party is changing its reward system.
“I want to say that we are delighted as the members of the State Executive Council, for the sort of recommendation made by the leadership of that party corridor (Lagos East) and he too (Jokomba) has pledged to work assiduously with us, and contribute his own quota towards the growth our party”, he said.
“Our people from Ikorodu, I want to thank you; I want to appreciate you; I want to salute your courage; I want to thank you for the perseverance and thank you for the endurance and for what you have done in making sure that you did not rock the boat. As you are putting lots of pressure on the leadership of our party from that party corridor, more importantly, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, our dear brother, Olusanya, Baba Basorun and a host of others, I want to let you know that it was a really tough journey for Baba Ogunleye, Otunba and Baba Basorun and I want to assure that on behalf of Mr Governor and your party that our party is set out to change the mechanism of reward.
“We demonstrated that to a reasonable level during the last composition of the cabinet. For the first time, we had the leadership of the local governments to recommend names and in the state today, there is no local government out of the 20, that is not represented in the cabinet of Lagos State. In the same vein, as more opportunities unfold, those that are yet to be accorded due recognition will be recognised”, he assured.
Congratulating the new State Scribe of the party, the APC State Chairman also thanked the party leaders for presenting a popular candidate for the position.
“This is a show of force from the Lagos East Senatorial District. You have shown that all the leaders; those in government and every members of the party in the District, are behind Jokomba. We are happy that you have presented a grassroots person who is loved by the people. If he had been another person, protesters would have stormed the party secretariat to prevent the inauguration”, Pastor Ojelabi said.
“This shows that he is on ground at home and he is loved and we should support him with prayers.
“Once more, I want to congratulate you, Jokomba, on your emergence as the acting Secretary of our party. On behalf of all of us, I welcome you as our party exco”, he said.
The former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, speaking at the ceremony, also said that the state executives arm of the party has exercised its constitutional responsibility in selecting and inaugurating Hon. Jokomba as the new State Scribe.
The party chieftain described the new Secretary as a thorough party man who is a team player.
While stating that he is duly qualified for the post going by his contributions to the party, Prince Ogunleye also added that the former Council Chairman has been denied many opportunities by the leadership of the party without him protesting.
He thanked the state leadership of the party on behalf of Ikorodu, and assured that Jokomba will deliver on his new assignment.
Dr Jokomba, in his acceptance speech, thanked the party for the opportunity to serve, and pledged his total commitment and loyalty to the party.
“l wholeheartedly thank the All Progressives Congress (APC) for giving me the opportunity to serve the great party as the Secretary of the Lagos State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter. It is the reason why we are here gathered. I am indeed very grateful”, he said.
“I thank everyone for creating time to attend this inauguration event. Thank you for coming to celebrate with me and gracing the occasion with your presence.
“To my great party, APC, everyone here present and all my well – wishers, I express my utmost gratitude for all your help and support. I will never forget your support and kindness.
“As usual, I pledge unalloyed loyalty to the party, and to my wonderful friends, l am counting on your support to deliver on the tasks ahead. Once again, thank you all”, he said.
At the inauguration ceremony were: GAC leader, Alhaji Bamu, Vice Chairman, APC Lagos East, Hon. Olayinka Oladunjoye, former Vice Chairman, APC, Lagos East, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, party chieftains, members of the State APC executives, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. (Prince) Wasiu Kunle Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Builder Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA and Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Mayoress Samiat Bada, Chairman, Ikosi Isheri LCDA, Hon. Japheth Odesanya, former Secretary to Ikorodu LG, past Council Chairmen and party members.
