ACTION CONGRESS UK CHAPTER
DELEGATES CONGRESS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
HELD AT NOVOTEL 113 LAMBETH ROAD LONDON SE1 7LS
ON SUNDAY 4TH MAY 2008.

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY CHIEF (DR) AYODELE OWOADE
FOLLOWING RE-ELECTION AS CHAIRMAN

TIME TO FIGHT BACK!!!

On behalf of the newly elected officers of our great party, I say a big thank you to the members of the electoral committee for a job well done.  I also like to thank all our guests for coming and being patient enough to stay on as we perform one of the fundamental democratic norm in which members have had the opportunity to freely elect their leaders.

Our great party provides for foreign chapters in its constitution.  In the history of politics in Nigeria, this is a novelty.  Now those of us living outside the borders of our dear country can meaningfully be a part of the political process at home.  We now have a platform through which our great ideas for the betterment of our nation can be channelled.

Today’s congress and election of officers is a statement that we diaspora Nigerians are determined to take full advantage of that section of our party’s constitution to play our role in the political and socio-economic development of our nation.

Since its formation about 18 months ago, AC UK has creditably proven its worth as a foreign chapter.

  • We held a series of demonstrations pre-elections early 2007 to alert the international community to PDP’s grand design to perpetrate the worst election-rigging scheme in history.
  • We petitioned the then British Prime Minister and held meetings with Foreign and Commonwealth Office when our Presidential flag-beare and then VP was illegally threatened with dismissal by Obasanjo.  This patriotic action by our chapter probably saved Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from undeserved intimidation and humiliation.
  • We were there in Lagos State to witness the inauguration of Governor Babatunde Fashola on 29th May 2007.
  • We reacted through press releases whenever developments in our nation’s politics call for comments

At this juncture ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to register our chapter’s appreciation to my esteemed Leader, Hon Olawale Oshun for the special interest he has shown to ensure the survival, harmony and stability of AC UK.  Today’s unified congress and election is proof that he has succeeded in the task.  Special thanks also go to our national Leadership for bearing with us while things are sorted out.  I pledge before the congress today that we shall now go forward with a unity of purpose so that we can at all times perform creditably as a foreign chapter.

As ever, our great nation is faced with serious and enormous challenges.  The masses wallow in abject poverty primarily because those charged with the responsibility of governance have failed in every sense of the word.  With oil approaching $120.00 a barrel, Nigeria has never had it this great revenue-wise.  So why should any Nigerian go to bed hungry, why should any Nigerian child die of easily preventable disease(s), and may I ask, yet again, why in the name of both Jesus and Allah should any Nigerian lack electricity, good road, security, education, health care and all the good things that you and I take for granted here.

It is established that our fortunes as a nation have never been this great in terms of revenue accruing to the government. Sadly, ladies and gentlemen, our misfortune has been equally great in the shape of a bunch of witless, heartless, wicked and extremely corrupt bunch of Nigerians collectively referred to as Peoples Democratic Party PDP.  Perhaps one should not blame the PDP for its reprehensible scheme to bleed the nation dry.  Mind-boggling scams are daily revealed by probes after probes, yet the average Nigerian disinterestedly look the other way.  So long as we remain timid and unassertive, so long will the corrupt PDP cabal continue to treat you and I with levity as they plunder their way to unimaginable stolen wealth.

Why let them get away with bleeding us dry; stealing our resources and denying us the right to freely elect our leaders.  We should all now rise up to challenge this tiny clique of pen-robbers and ask them to explain the source of their sudden and stupendous riches.  It time we Nigerians get bold to unleash the Georgian treatment on election riggers.  It is time we borrow a leaf from our brothers and sisters in Kenya on how to defend and fight for a mandate.  I challenge every one of my compatriots to be bold enough to say enough is enough.  Being in government or in a political party is no licence to steal what belongs to you and me.  After all, if a thief comes into your house to loot your hard earned property, you fight back.  So why let the thieves loot away the resources that are legitimately yours.  It is time to fight back.

Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.

4th May 2008.