President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State to come together and work as a team to win back the state in the 2027 elections.
According to Tinubu, Oyo, a major state in southwestern Nigeria, is too important to be left out of the APC’s control.
The president was represented at the first Lam Adesina Annual Lecture by the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.
The event which took place in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, on Monday, was in honour of Lam Adesina, a former governor of Oyo who served from 1999 to 2003.
The gathering saw attendance from prominent figures, including former governors of Ekiti State Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as well as Oyo State APC leaders such as Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, and Alhaji Olayide Abas, the state APC chairman. Traditional and religious leaders, like the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, were also present to show their support for the event.
The APC, which had previously held Oyo, lost control of the state to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
In his speech, Adelabu stressed that the best way to honour Lam Adesina’s legacy is by reviving the party’s strength in Oyo. He urged APC leaders to put aside any internal differences and work together.
He said, “Lam Adesina stood for high democratic ideals that underpin the democratic system of government. Ideals that are essential for ensuring that power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
“Ideals of effective participation in governance with citizens making their views known on policy decisions.
“Consequently, to honour his memory, the Progressives in Oyo State must come together as one. You all must fight the fight and win the battle. Come 2027, Oyo State must return to the progressive fold.”