A SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN OF IPAC-EDO STATE [INTER PARTY
ADVISORY COUNCIL]- HIS EXCELLENCY PRINCE FRANK UKONGA AT THE OCCASION OF THE FIRST INAUGURAL GENERAL
MEETING OF EDO STATE IPAC HELD @ INEC OFFICE ON NOV 26, 2014
My Dear Honorable Party Chairmen,
My fellow IPAC EXCO Members,
Exalted Secretaries of our great Political Parties,
Representative of our wonderful INEC REC,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
May I on behalf of my fellow Exco Members on board IPAC Edo
state welcome you all to this meeting. It is indeed with great pleasure and
high sense of respect that I welcome you all to what is the inaugural general
meeting of the collective body of IPAC in Edo state And we appreciate you for
making out time from your busy schedules to attend this meeting, particularly
against the background of the most of us having either started conducting the
different congresses/Primaries or finalizing plans of doing so in our
respective political parties.
You would recall that the present IPAC Exco in Edo state was
elected as well as sworn-in in this same hall on September 19th,
2014. And since then, we have been like the wise and hardworking farmer who,
while putting hands on the plough, never looked back considering that we have collectively
been working tirelessly to ensure that IPAC is deeply seated in Edo state. To
say the least, it has not really been easy for us on the Exco as the challenges
before us had been daunting. But for the reason, that we have very resourceful
personalities on board and more so, as we had collectively resolved to succeed,
we had been tackling the challenges Headlong.
Within the short period of our assumption of office, we have
done some of the followings:
1] We met and came out with plans to acquiring an office space,
procuring stationeries for office use, convening a general meeting of Edo state
IPAC members, constituting the two statutory committees of IPAC as well as entrenchment
of its ideals IPAC code, paying courtesy visit to different bodies and agencies
in the state, and seeing to the establishment of the presence of IPAC and its
ideals in Edo state.
2] We came out with a press statement calling the attention
of all parties to the imbroglio at the Edo state House of Assembly to sheathe
their swards, go into reconciliation, promote peace and urgently start
delivering on their electoral promises to the peace loving peoples of Edo
state.
3] We monitored the distribution by INEC of PVC and conduct
of CVR while officially bringing to its notice the need for extension of the exercises
when it becomes compelling.
4] We honored the invitation extended to us by some of our
members to attend the –peace/ solidarity rallies organized by their respective
political parties; and
5]
Edo state IPAC in line with the invitation sent by the
National IPAC, was represented by the secretary and the chairman –my humble self
at a one Day Retreat organized by the body and her international partners at
the TERVAN HOTEL in Kaduna.
In going about all these, we have always been confronted by
the challenges of raising funds; in fact to have an office space for the body,
we had to rely on the generosity of INEC and the SDP which offered to allow use
their offices as IPAC Secretariat and Office Annex respectively. To procure
office stationeries inclusive of printing letter heads, we – the members of
Exco had to levy ourselves; while all other activities so far engaged in the
name of the body are being done at the expense of individuals Exco members who
graciously have accepted it as their personal sacrifices towards the setting up
of IPSC in Edo state.
Notwithstanding all these efforts, we make bold to say that
we a still a little far from realizing the ideals for which IPAC had been set
up in Edo state. Tough we have written to reach out to the governor and even
gone ahead to book for a courtesy visit, we are still awaiting his anticipated response.
Whence we would focus on the critical topics of the Kaduna
retreat for the benefits of all members of IPAC Edo state chapter which would
serve as a guide for today’s interactive session;
1] Funding: This is very important component if we are to succeed in the onerous
task before us; and aside the sources for raising of funds as enshrined in the
IPAC code [ refer to pg 21] funds could be raised from notable Personalities
and state/ local governments without compromising IPAC ideals.
2] Political Inclusion; Organizing quarterly meeting of all
IPAC Members, and even public political discourse
to be done from time to time.
3] Monitoring polls, primaries, rallies, preaching the
virtues of non violence and peaceful elections among our fellow members and
recommending appropriate disciplinary action on those that violate INEC and
IPAC Code of conducts
4] Promoting issue based politics in our state; and
5] Organizing stakeholders meetings with INEC, Police, Civil
Defense Corp, Peace Corp, DSS, Religious bodies, traditional rulers, the masses
and the media with the aim of working towards ensuring peaceful , free , fair
and acceptable elections,
My fellow compatriots, I would be ungrateful to INEC if I
conclude this speech without appreciating the body for cooperation extended to
us this far- never minding that it is yet to disburse funds to us as dictated
by the IPAC code. Indeed, beginning from the REC through the HOD Election/Political
Party Monitoring to all the staffs, their desire has been for us to succeed.
Even the usage of this INEC Hall to day for our Epoch first inaugural general
meeting and the refreshments are made possible by the INEC REC. we appreciate
your passionate contributions and we thank you.
Once again I welcome you all- my honorable Party chairmen of
all political parties in Edo state of Nigeria and your secretaries to this very
important meeting.
God bless IPAC, God bless INEC, God bless Edo state, and God
bless Nigeria!
H.E. Prince Frank Ukonga
Executive chairman IPAC-Edo state of Nigeria
