Still basking in the euphoria of his recent victory over his traducers, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, as at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday to formally present the party’s new Deputy National Chairman (South), Abiola Ajimobi, to President Muhammadu Buhari.
An obviously relieved Oshiomhole who was dressed in dark blue kaftan, instead of his trademark grey khaki suit, told journalists afterwards that he also used the opportunity to commend the President for slashing petrol price to N125 per litre in view of global drop in crude oil price.
The party chief explained that the choice of Ajimobi, a former Governor of Oyo State, for the position was a popular decision of the Southwest region despite his rejection by the Ekiti State chapter of the party.
Ekiti State chapter of the party had preferred that the position was allotted to the State since the last occupant, Niyi Adebayo, was from the State.
According to Oshiomhole, democracy allows for the dissent by Ekiti State, but also allows that the majority, being the other five Southwest States, to have their way.
His words: “Of course, Mr. President already knows him (Ajimobi), he hosted us a couple of times when he was governor of Ogun State and played a pioneering role in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Obviously, he is not a stranger to the President, it’s just a way of formality that I have to present him. Mr President was delighted that it is someone with his background – a complete gentleman, he has been in the oil industry, a senator and a two-term governor.
“So, he will bring on board a wealth of experience that will help to reinforce the quality of leadership of the All Progressives Congress.”
Other recent actions taken by the president that deserve commendation, Oshiomhole said: “I also appreciate the prompt proactive steps taken by the CBN by making funds available to support businesses that are affected by the Coronavirus.
“Everywhere around the world governments are rising to the occasion and I am happy that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has also taken a bold step to not only protecting Nigerians by stopping foreign airlines, from flying into the country particularly from the high-risk countries with the pandemic along with other measures which will help to curtail it.
“These are challenging times and our president is showing leadership just as we expect of him, putting Nigeria first, supporting businesses and passing not just the burden of the drop in oil price, but the benefit of that drop.
“Having been active in this politics of oil pricing, this is the first time a Nigerian President without a strike, without protest, without editorials, without commentators, by his own conviction he says this drop in the price of crude must be reflected in a drop in the price of PMS. For us, as party leaders, we think he deserves commendation”, he said.
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