{"id":1927,"date":"2022-08-22T11:50:54","date_gmt":"2022-08-22T11:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/?p=1927"},"modified":"2024-05-29T12:10:54","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T12:10:54","slug":"we-are-progressives-we-are-omoluabi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/we-are-progressives-we-are-omoluabi\/","title":{"rendered":"WE ARE PROGRESSIVES, WE ARE OMOLUABI"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1927\" class=\"elementor elementor-1927\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f52e2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"77f52e2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9092fa1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9092fa1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 26-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">It gives me great pleasure to be at this grand occasion, as I welcome you all to this pathbreaking event in the annals of progressivism in our dear state, Osun.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">What we have come to do here today is to renew our commitment to the path of progressive ideology and politics as inherited from our great past heroes, beginning from Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Bola Ige and others in the pantheon of progressive politics too numerous to mention.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">Emerging from the ashes of the near annihilation of our party in the governorship election of 2022 and the general election earlier this year, we should rise up and renew our strength and reclaim our place in the political firmament in Osun.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">We have been at this juncture before, after the 2003 election in which our party lost the stakes and was at its nadir in the state. At that point, likeminded progressives under the banner of Oranmiyan emerged to begin a movement that mobilised our members and the people of the state into a veritable electoral machine that won the 2007 governorship election which ushered an epoch making two term administration in the state and handed over to a successor from our party. Unfortunately, our successor could not maintain the estate entrusted in his hands, leading to the dismal performance of our party at the polls and the urgent degeneration of affairs in the party.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">Given the enthusiastic and heartfelt reception accorded us by the people anytime we are in the state, it is clear that they did not reject us or our party. They are only not well pleased with the individuals who have turned our party to personal fiefdom and abandoned the path of progressivism and the interest of the people.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">The Omoluabi Tendency is a caucus within the All Progressive Congress (APC), actually one of the caucuses in the state. We are not a faction. We are the genuine foundation members of the party and we have no intention of abandoning the ship of the party as it navigates the most turbulent waters. We are no sprinters, but long-distance runners and we will still be standing when all the fair-weathers have gone.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">A political party is actually an agglomeration of interests and tendencies. Reading well from the United States where we borrowed the Presidential System, we can see that the Republican Party is made up of big businesses, nationalists, religious right and others. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, is composed of welfarists, labour unions, ethnic and sexual minorities and others.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">They are together in the party because their interests are broadly similar and they believe the party is the right vehicle for them to realise their goals. Sometimes they compete and clash, but for most part, they cooperate and form strong bond to give their party the victory in every election cycle. The party loses anytime this bond is broken.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">Our party failed principally because of indiscipline and lack\/loss of focus. This is manifested in form of lack of character and incompetence. Character is the mental and moral qualities required in an individual to occupy certain office or perform certain task. Competence is the skill required to get specific task done. It is bad when one of the two is absent, but it is always catastrophic when both are absent. It is beyond disputation how the absence of these virtues spelt doom for our party in the recent past.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">These virtues are integral to the Omoluabi ethos in Yoruba belief system. When we were at the helm here, we not only lived this ethos, we made conscious effort to revive and promote it among the generality of the people of the state.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">We should therefore consciously return to this path of rectitude and distinguish ourselves as Omoluabi in its most pristine form.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">Our movement is for all comers in the state. We make no discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, occupation, economic status and any circumstance of birth, except in adherence to our core values and character. We are open to all people, young and old, rich and poor, educated or otherwise, traders and blue collar, landowners and tenants.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">We are going to organise periodic training in character building and vocational skills for members of this tendency and prepare them for leadership roles in all walks of life.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">The core of our belief is that political power should be deployed in service of the people. This conviction stems from the wisdom of our forebears, who left us with the progressive tradition of seeking the highest benefits for the largest number of people. They emphasized associating with the best in character and human values, always exhibiting discipline and promoting human dignity with integrity. This ethos finds its roots in the very origins of governance. Government emerged from the social contract in which the people, prioritizing collective welfare and security, willingly gave up their power of self-governance. They entrusted this power to an agency, ensuring the security of lives, property, and the general welfare of everyone. That entrusted agency is the government.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">The government should galvanise the natural resources within its geography and the physical and mental resources of the people and deploy it for the betterment of the people and the greatness of their land.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">When the government pursues its raison d\u2019etre, it succeeds and the people rejoice. But when it abandons the people and begins to pursue the particularistic interests of its functionaries, the people suffer.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">But we are irrevocably committed to the development of the people and their welfare. On this, we stand on the shoulder of giants. Chief Obafemi Awolowo presided over the most progressive and developmental government anywhere in Africa. Chief Bola Ige was a genius of Fabian socialist administration in the old Oyo State. Between 1999 and 2007, I was part of the progressive administration in Lagos, under our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is on this same foundation that we premised our unforgettable eight-year governance in Osun, which you all witnessed.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">When others are modifying their character and disposition to blend with exigencies, we have resolved to dig deeper into our inner recesses and emerge with a better version of ourselves.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">We are staunch progressives, deeply rooted in the principles of Omoluabi, and this guiding light will always illuminate our path. Our political engagements are free from animosity or hatred, for our love for all of God\u2019s creations knows no boundaries. This unconditional love paves the way for our core values. At the heart of Omoluabi Progressives lies discipline\u2014whether in personal endeavours, social interactions, political relationship or any sphere of life. Those who cannot align with the Omoluabi ethos don\u2019t have a place with us. Our guiding principle remains a blend of character and competence. While character shapes the human soul, competence reflects one\u2019s efficiency in creating value. These twin pillars, we believe, are the keystones of human civilization and progress. As we recognize our stage of development and the urgency to uplift our people, we\u2019re convinced that reinvigorating these core values is pivotal to maintaining our resonance amongst them.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">By the grace of God, I have been a two term commissioner in Lagos, two term governor in Osun and a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am fulfilled. But all these will count for nothing if our people are still shackled, forlorn and hopeless. I will therefore be engaged until the last person is emancipated.<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">There is no guarantee that the journey will be easy, but we are motivated by the fact that our cause is just and victory is assured. We will not be discouraged and we shall not rest until the dawn breaks from the night.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">I thank you all for your kind attention.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">Osun a dara!<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div class=\"x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a\"><div dir=\"auto\">A SPEECH BY OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA,<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">AT THE LAUNCHING OF OMOLUABI CAUCUS OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS IN OSUN,<\/div><div dir=\"auto\">HELD AT ILESA, ON TUESDAY AUGUST 22, 2023.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It gives me great pleasure to be at this grand occasion, as I welcome you all to this pathbreaking event in the annals of progressivism in our dear state, Osun.\u00a0What we have come to do here today is to renew our commitment to the path of progressive ideology and politics as inherited from our great [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1927"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1934,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions\/1934"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omoluabiprogressives.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}