In less than 24 hours after his appointment as the Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organization, the political stratosphere in Nigeria is already electrified.
Few political events have excited the populace in recent times, like the reality of having Governor Simon Lalong leading the APC campaign trail ahead the 2023 general elections.
The excitement reverberating in the APC over the choice of the Governor as the campaign DG proves that, not only has the party made the right choice, but that his appointment has added a lease of life to the APC behemoth.
As the new DG moved straight from the Presidential Villa, where he was unveiled to President Muhammadu Buhari by the trio of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shetima and Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the presidential flagbearers and APC national chairman, respectively, to the warm embrace of well wishers in Jos who came out in their thousands across party lines to welcome him, it was obvious that the APC has been recharged for greater things ahead.
In the midst of the euphoria, the enormity of the task ahead was not lost on the Governor, who is not new to such tasks as he had successfully handled similar tasks in the past with his leadership of the campaign of Governor Oyetola in 2018, where he delivered Osun state to the APC.
Governor Lalong made an impression as a true patriot following the nomination of the APC vice presidential candidate. While other contenders lost their cool and were dragging the party to the mud for losing out, he maintained a calm disposition and drew from clearer thinking, believing in the truism that a true leader doesn’t create separation but brings people together.
As chairman, Northern Governors Forum (NGF) and the only Christian APC Governor in the North, he silently continued to work assiduously for the success and growth of his beloved party.
He traded the dictum of Martin Luther King, which says, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a moulder of consensus”.
The early fruits of his labour became apparent following the visit of the Benue State APC governorship candidate, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on August 3, where the Reverend gentleman appreciated the Governor’s support and encouragement.
The calm demeanour of this former two-term Speaker of Conference of Nigerian Speakers of Nigeria, attracted his Governor-colleagues, who beamed their searchlight on him to end the teething imbroglio and unite the party to victory.
His reputation preceded him!
Lalong was the first and only parliamentarian to have survived the first recall process, and suffered about 50 days incarceration following his refusal to impeach his then Governor, Joshua Dariye, and went on to defeat the then ruling party in the state to emerge as Governor of Plateau State.
In all intent and purposes, Lalong stood tall with capacity to carry the trust to steer the course and end the ensuing brouhaha in the APC.
Majority of party faithful trusted this Catholic Knight of KSGG to bridge the religious gaps and lead the party to victory.
As the longest serving Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Governor Lalong is already putting his boots on the ground to underscore the urgency of the task ahead.
Armed with the reality that, all politics is local, he is hitting the ground running by starting from his state (home base) by consolidating on the vigour and renewed strength of the APC on the Plateau.
As the APC Governor in Northern Nigeria, who has won the hearts of his colleagues to lead them as their Chairman, unifying leaders and building blocks of cooperation has been his turf.
With his sleeves rolled up, this Barrister is sired to apply his skills, experience and unblemished track record to lead APC to victory.
Like Martin Luther said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
For the APC in Nigeria, it is time again to echo the reigning argot, ‘We move!’
No comments:
Post a Comment