Happy new year to all our members in Ondo State. 2020 is here and
the 2020 governorship election beckons 9 months from now. ADC was almost
unknown in Ondo until the 10th of May 2018. By December, without any
godfathers, ADC became the number one party of the state riding on the
power of the people and leaders that borders on inclusion, equity,
commitment and conviction. It is as if ADC (Arise and Shine) was
registered with the Sunshine state in mind. Today, not minding the
decadent systemic corruption and authoritarianism in the country your
authentic and alternative voice for national rejuvenation sounds loud
and clear at the National Assembly.
In a complicated and complex
system like ours, Change is difficult because of many entrenched
interests, corruption and the willy-dilly therein. But it will amount to
leadership failure and a doomed future if leaders fail to persevere
when their efforts tend to hit Rocky resistance. Effective leaders
actually anticipate the resistance and persons who are genuine in their
pursuit never give up. No one can climb a rocky mountain and not expect
to sweat or get into jungle and not expect a sting or insect bite. So it
is with leading change.
ADC state leaders have been accused,
bullied, scandalised and tormented. Earlier, the senatorial candidate,
state Chairman, woman leader and others were kidnapped. Further, they
burnt and vandalized the factory and offices of the state Chairman, and
tried to disrupt all ADC’s and their candidates programs. They tried to
frustrate the daring and ambitious empowerment programs initiated by
some of our youthful Diaspora candidates. They unleashed thugs on the
election days to intimidate the people. Yet the powers that be could not
break the synergy the party built with the people of Ondo state; the
people came out to give ADC its biggest triumph. On the day of the
election 2 senate seats for ADC were sure banker, more than half of the
other national and state assemblies seats were going for our members.
Unfortunately, the systems operators within the state and national
conspired to deny our candidates their victories and our party ADC its
wins. To the glory of God and the courage of the Ondo people, the
overwhelming support given to The Rt Hon Dr Abiola Peter Makinde awed
the vodoo and most vicious gang-up. May God's name be praised; today,
Hon Makinde represents Ondo East and West Federal Constituency and
stands out as a stellar Parliamentarian in Nigeria’s Green Chamber.
For Ondo we should not forget so soon, the memories live and remain
historic. The people don't blink when confronted with overbearing
federal powers, fascist regimes and toxic leaders. Remember Pa Ajasin of
blessed memory, it happened in 1983. Again in 2007 the people teamed
with Mimiko to oust an incumbent governor, and even the present Governor
came to be 4yrs ago following the peoples resolve not to take orders
from Lagos and Abuja. Why should anyone believe that the same Ondo
people want to be associated with the most authoritarian regime ever in
Nigeria.
The Ondo people have all the reasons to be eked with the
two parties that have played prominent roles in Ondo state politics
removing the short-lived forays of two others. Within the time these
parties were in control of government, they spent over N7.0Trillions of
the peoples money from federal allocations, excess crude account shares,
internally generated revenues, forced land acquisitions, and local and
foreign loans. This does not include the CBN funds for Agric-investment,
industrialization and infrastructure to the state via private investors
and millions of dollars from NGOs and foreign Donors programs. The LGAs
in Ondo state have also collected a lot more. Each of the local
government council has in its kitty about 250million monthly from
federal sources, internally generated revenues, levies and markets. The
federal law makers are supposed to attract investments and developmental
projects and opportunities from the federal government and its numerous
agencies. All these combined with the statutory federal obligations to
the state in terms of infrastructural developments, empowerment and
poverty alleviation programs, the wastage is humongous. For 20years the
governments have squandered the resources and the citizens live in
penury, tragic deficit of infrastructural and industrial development,
Education, health and Healthcare and all the human development index.
Wasted years, wasted opportunities and billions in the pockets of a few
with estates in Abuja, Lagos and in foreign lands.
The people of
Ondo have shown capacity and readiness to follow determined and
progressive leaders before and now. They did that when they used the
Labour party to stop the powerful PDP, AD, and ACN. Their mentality in
adopting ADC has again spoken the obvious. As leaders we should learn to
understand our people, listen to them and remain accountable to them
always. The people love humble and transparent leaders.
We may
not get it right all the times. Leaders are not infallible. It is
ennobling to share our challenges, failures and even the guilt we feel.
The people deserve our humble acceptance and apologies. They will
understand, they can forgive. But they don't want quitters or persons
who would easily transit to the power-players-domain climbing on their
back. They will spite opportunists who used them as canon fodders. It is
only a matter of time. Leaders must be authentic and must be able to
assure their people that the compass of their trajectories are in order
and are being controlled with due diligence.
In 2020 and beyond,
ADC has the duty to provide the leadership for Ondo renaissance. The
transducers, corrupted systems and the devouring hawks will always
conspire to thwart things as they did in 2019. But with a clear
strategy, well coordination action and leadership resolve Ondo will
continuously arise and shine from hence. It is not by accident that Ondo
is the sunshine state; Almighty liveth and does not reward evil.
I hear that the entrenched interests have put the budget of a
governorship run at ₦20 billion minimum. That budget is a vodoo gameplay
for scavengers, egomaniacs and political mercenaries. When the people
rallied for Mimiko, neither the state nor the federal supported him, he
did not spend anything close to one month allocation of one local
government council to be victorious. If one is ready to govern based on
ADC DNA, disciplined and responsible engagement with the people, and
radical transparency, trust the people to go the extra miles of raising
the millions by donating ₦100, 200, 500, 1000, and 10k, volunteerism and
their unalloyed support. The wise people will rather invest 1k than
lose more in trillions of Naira, and wasted years that should be
channeled into productivity, development, security and prosperity for
the people and the state.
You made ADC number one party in Ondo
in 6 months without a counselor. We may be down, angry and a bit
confused. But we have the people and we have 9months to stop the bazaar
of looting and desecration of our values. It is all in our hands. Our
brand is strong, yes very strong. The campaign will be easier,
especially where nothing can be said of the trillions of naira wasted,
the current state and national debt profile, worsening security
situation, poverty and fascism that the party in power has enthroned in
place of the democracy we fought the military for. ADC arise and shine
in the Sunshine State.During the 2019 general election regime Ondo
people spoke loud that they stand with ADC. They rejected the dirty
money and rebuffed all the threats and voted with their heart and head
intact. It is all in our hands. We must not renege on this SOS duty.
I remain yours truly,
Ralphs Okey Nwosu ADC National Chairman 03/01/2020.
