Fashola, Tinubu, Muazu, Buhari others pay tribute to Lai Mohammed at presentation of “Witness of History”
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), his predecessor in office, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Head of State and National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) and the Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, were among dignitaries, Party Chieftains and top government officials who, Monday in Lagos, paid glowing tributes to National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the official presentation of his book “Witness of History: Action Congress of Nigeria and the Struggle for Democracy Liberty and Justice”.
Also National Leaders of two of the political parties in the merger plan, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), at the occasion reaffirmed their commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his opening remarks at the occasion in which he played the role of Chief Host, Governor Fashola praised the resilience of the ACN National Publicity Secretary, especially his wisdom in producing the book saying it would help preserve for posterity the efforts of the progressives to bring out the best in democratic governance in Nigeria.
Governor Fashola particularly recalled the arduous task that Alhaji Mohammed, who served as Chief of Staff during Governor Tinubu’s first tenure, accomplished in setting up the logistics for managing the Office of the Chief of Staff adding that the effort made it easy for him to succeed in that position during Tinubu’s second tenure.
Underscoring the importance of documenting events, Governor Fashola, who said Nigerians often forget so easily, pointed out that unless events, including utterances, such as are currently occurring daily in the country are properly documented, the future may not be well guarded.
The Governor recalled the recent statement by the ruling Party that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock pointing out that such a statement implied that the ruling party already had plans to continue in office whether or not an election favours them.
“The notion that there would be a contest for elective office simply suggests that there would be a vacancy for the highest position in 2015. Therefore, the assertion that there is no vacancy in 2015 is a very important revelation of the mindset of the team in the ruling party and therefore it is important for those who may listen to the assertion or may have heard it not take things for granted”, the Governor said.
Governor Fashola said the success story of governance in Lagos State has made the State the standard bearer of what good governments and good governance should represent adding that it has also highlighted the failure of governance at the highest level of government in the country.
According to Governor Fashola, “The small number of constituents that manage the State has kept other parties on their toes about what is possible if the energies are concentrated in the right places”, adding, “The contention by the Peoples Democratic Party that there is no vacancy in the highest position in the land raises a lot of questions one of which is, that what reasons would inform the decision to organize elections”.
The Governor expressed delight that Lagos State was playing the role host to the gathering as, according to him, “It has continued to perform the role with a laudable credibility by responding continuously to making it a safe place where people can come, do business, invest and also raise families”.
Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Aliyu Babangida who chaired the event said Alhaji Lai Mohammed through his inspirational patriotic and often straight forward reactions to public discourse and policies etched his name in the minds of the people as an opinion leader whose views could not be ignored.
He added that it was interesting to note that he brought an admirable angle into opposition politics by not being just a critic of the people and party in power, but by altruistically offering his services to others since he veered into politics during the turbulent transition to the ill-fated 3rd Republic.
He stated that Alhaji Mohammed’s courageous assessments of government policies through his press releases were lucid and just did not leave the issues hanging at an accusatory realm but prescribed options and virtues of alternative strategies and actions.
Governor Muazu recalled that he was among the first to praise the merger plans by the opposition so that the ruling party does not take things for granted in this country, adding that he does not see the opposition as something that should be repressed but should only help to look at the other side of the point.
He said nation building should go beyond partisanship and that everyone must realize it is not everything that should be subjected to politics of partisanship.
In his remarks at the occasion, former Governor of Lagos State and Presenter of the Book, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praised the author, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, describing him as Maker of History instead of Witness to History which is the title of the book.
According to Asiwaju Tinubu, “You can see the modesty of the author in the title of the book, Lai calling himself a witness to history. I disagree. If I decided the title of the book, I would have written Maker of History”.
Thanking the author for his contributions to democracy in the country, Asiwaju Tinubu declared, “Your contribution to the Action Congress of Nigeria and the survival of the Nigerian democracy is not that of a witness, it is that of an essential participant. Without you, we will not be at the historic threshold which we stand today. On behalf of millions of true democrats I say thank you Lai Mohammed”.
He described the timing of the launch of the book as excellent adding, “The book is being launched after the most important and final Convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) wherein we agreed to merge into the All Progressives Congress (APC). This party has a permanent place in history. If those who attempted to hijack Lagos by hook or crook had succeeded, the democratic rule in Nigeria would have suffered. But they did not succeed”.
“The tide now turns. We are gaining grounds day by day. Democracy, liberty, justice and peace may move so slower than their opposite. But when they gain momentum, nothing can stop them. We are now gaining momentum in Nigeria, we shall not be stopped”, the former Governor said adding, “That is why I talked about the gathering storm, the storm of positive wind and progressive change”.
Noting that he has laboured tirelessly all his adult life for the emergence of a responsible leadership and the establishment of a true democracy, Asiwaju Tinubu again declared, “With APC, we will form a mega party that will accomplish many things for Nigeria and Nigerians. This is a Nigerian Project, a movement with an agenda for change”.
“We are not unmindful that change never happens easily hence we are prepared to make the necessary sacrifice and arm ourselves for the battle ahead. We have been in the opposition for too long. In fact I think we should stop using the term “Opposition”. We should use “Government in waiting” because we are progressives”, the former Governor said.
Asiwaju Tinubu said the Progressives were not out to oppose for the sake of opposition, pointing out, “As the book will say, we stand for Democracy, Liberty and Justice. May I add that we stand for prosperity too, healthcare, peace, economic development, tolerance, unity and the eradication of corruption”.
“That is the least that we are presenting to Nigerians. We hate no one and oppose no person. However, we do oppose injustice, poverty, ignorance, indifference, hatred and bad governance. We oppose anyone in power whose activities create condition that allows injustice, poverty, corruption, unemployment and insecurity to thrive and whether in power or not, we shall continue to oppose them for those things”, Asiwaju Tinubu said.
Also in his remarks earlier, the Special Guest of Honour and former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd), praised the consistency of the author in pointing out the deficiencies of the ruling party and the ills in their governance of the country.
Likening the author to a child who would react spontaneously to any annoying or irritating situation, the former Head of State declared, “For Lai Mohammed to consistently point out the shortcomings of this administration, I think it shows an apparent personal touch and this is what I saw in him”.
The former Head of State recommended that the book be sent to schools and libraries all over Nigeria to ensure that everyone has access to it adding, “If we do not read such documents, we will keep on making the same mistakes and the agenda for the will not be clear to us”.
Congratulating the Action Congress of Nigeria for conducting their own convention as part of the consummation of the merger plan, General Buhari declared, “We are encouraged to continue. The CPC will conduct their own Convention on the 11th of next month while the ANPP is conducting their own on the same day in Zamfara”.
“We have agreed to come together to provide alternative to Nigerians. During the two years we have talked to consummate this merger, we have consolidated our position so well that I don’t think any responsible party will attempt to rig during the elections because Nigerians are very serious about the need for change”, General Buhari said.
The event was graced by many dignitaries including the First Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Chief Bisi Akande, the representative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, serving Senators including Senators representing the Lagos Central, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Lagos West, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Senator Chris Ngige and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji among others.
Culled from World Stage
No comments:
Post a Comment