G6 Diaspora Visits APC Lagos State Chairman Hon.Cornelius Ojelabi to Honor Him.
By Sesan Rufus Awobiye
The G6 Diaspora team visited the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence to express appreciation and honor him for his invaluable contributions to the party. This visit marked a significant moment of collaboration between the Diaspora community and the party, strengthening the relationship for future endeavors. The meeting, held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, began with the G6 team expressing their gratitude and outlining the purpose of their visit.
The G6 team began by addressing the Chairman:
Thank you so much, sir. We are incredibly grateful for your time and the leadership you’ve shown. G6 Diaspora greatly appreciates your presence and the work you have done for the party. Today, we’ve come to celebrate you and present you with a well-deserved award in recognition of your contributions. I’d like to take a moment to introduce our team: our Chairman for Campaign and General Meetings, Alhaji Wale Adeyemo, and our Secretary General, Alhaji Lawal. G6 Diaspora is a collective comprising countries across West Africa—specifically, the Republic of Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Ghana. During the recent election period, we convened in Cotonou to mobilize support for the party.
From the data we gathered, we had approximately 11,000 registered voters in West Africa who had their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), but unfortunately, only around 8,500 of them were able to vote due to logistical issues. The financial constraints we faced meant that we had to use our own funds to facilitate the movement of these voters, ensuring they could participate in the election. This was a significant effort on our part, but we believed it was necessary for the success of our party and the nation.
The Chairman, visibly appreciative of the G6 team’s dedication and sacrifice, responded with his own thoughtful remarks, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and long-term engagement:
I must commend you on your visit today—it is very impressive. The work you are doing is valuable, and this is just the beginning of what I hope will be a deepened partnership between us. We need to strengthen our ties further because when we are working on behalf of others, it is important to show appreciation and build trust over time. We should not wait until the election season to begin fulfilling our responsibilities. The work we do for the party and for the people should be a continuous commitment, and it is through regular engagement that we can ensure long-term success.
I would suggest that we make this kind of interaction more regular—perhaps once or twice a year. These types of meetings are vital for building intimacy and understanding between us. When you invest time, money, or resources into something, it is essential to monitor and evaluate that investment to ensure its success. As stakeholders in this party, we all have a role in ensuring that our efforts yield results.
It is also important that we think strategically about where to focus our efforts. While Badagry is considered a stronghold for the APC, it should not be the only area we focus on. We need to look beyond Badagry and think about redistributing our efforts to other areas, such as Eti-Osa, where the party is still working to establish a stronger base. It is crucial that we ensure all our constituencies are well-supported, and we must be strategic in how we expand our influence.
The Chairman then addressed the challenges the party faces in managing resources and dealing with the current political and economic climate:
Unfortunately, there are significant challenges within the system. The amount of money being allocated to various levels of government is enormous, yet corruption continues to undermine progress. Funds that are meant for development are being misappropriated, and the average citizen is left to suffer. Despite the increase in allocations, the funds are not being used effectively, which exacerbates hardship and stunts growth.
One of the most pressing issues is currency manipulation. It’s a situation where people can walk around with millions of Naira or dollars, contributing to the devaluation of the Naira and the persistently high exchange rates. This is a major problem that affects not just the economy, but the overall governance system. The Federal Government has limited power to sanction states or local governments for such behavior, which makes the situation even more challenging.
The removal of fuel subsidies is one step the government has taken to address some of these issues, but the real challenge now is to ensure that the savings from the subsidy removal are allocated transparently. I suggest that we encourage the President to dedicate the funds saved from this measure into a specific account designated for infrastructural development and social welfare programs. This would ensure that the money is used for the benefit of the people, not misused or diverted.
The Chairman’s remarks highlighted the ongoing struggles within the system, but also underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and strategic action in navigating these challenges. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working closely with the G6 Diaspora team, urging them to continue their efforts in strengthening the party and its vision.
We must continue to work together, and I believe that with strategic investments, honesty, and dedication, we can overcome the obstacles ahead. The future of Lagos State and Nigeria depends on our collective effort. I am confident that through collaboration, we will succeed.”
The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with both the G6 Diaspora team and the APC Lagos State Chairman committing to a strengthened partnership, dedicated to the growth and success of the party and the nation as a whole.
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