Hon Bimbo Kolade, a Federal Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Abuja (RAMFAC) has urged members of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo state to embrace peace and imbibe the spirit of forgiveness to bring the party stronger and better.
Kolade made this call in a release personally signed by him on Tuesday to commemorate his birthday. The copy of the letter was made available to insideoyo.com.
The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state said 2020 has been challenging for the party following the sudden deaths of various leaders including Former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW
I once again commiserate with the larger family of the progressives in Oyo state.
Indeed, this year has been a challenging one for all of us in the family with sudden and unexpected deaths of various leaders within the fold including the death of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.
This year, we have lost people like Pa Adelere in Iseyin, Pa Farinu, Gidado and S.M Akindele from Oyo and possibly other younger ones who may not be widely reported. I remember a dynamic young man from Ogo-Oluwa, Hon. Idowu Adewoye who was the leader of the legislative too passed on. These are people who are pillars of the progressives in their various domains.
Indeed, events of the last four/five years have been one that generates a lot of rancour within the circle of the progressives and which has led to various forms of disagreements amongst us; thereby causing the disintegration of the progressive family. Each individual will have different reasons for the causes of the disagreements and the blame game might come into play; pointing accusing fingers at each other and or at some group/groups for been the reasons behind the rancors.
At this juncture, I want to appeal to everyone, irrespective of which side of the ring you are speaking from, to please let us all forgive ourselves, forget all hurts, give peace a chance so that we can forge ahead as we join hands to rebuild the broken walls of the progressives, our platform and the APC party in the State.
I am appealing that we all forgive each other and one another. The words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr as contained in a sermon he delivered at a Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama, USA in 1957 which he titled “Loving Your Enemy.” is very apt here.
He suggested three ways by which we can do this, first, we must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive.
Such forgiveness doesn’t mean that we ignore the wrongs committed against us. Rather, it means that we will no longer allow the wrong to be a barrier to our relationships.
Forgiveness according to King, “is the catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.
Secondly, we must recognize that the wrong we have suffered doesn’t entirely represent the other person’s identity. We need to acknowledge that our opponent, like each one of us, possesses both bad and good qualities. We must choose to find the good and focus on it.
Third, we must not seek to defeat or humiliate our opponent but to win their friendship and understanding. Such an attitude flows not from ourselves, but from God as His unconditional love works through us.
Looking at these three instructive suggestions, we must realize that we all need to imbibe these values and principles to enable us to move forward within our Party.
Yes, we have wronged each other! Yes, we no doubt feel offended; but we cannot, and should not continue in it.
We must realize that we need each other and one another to move our Party forward. Therefore, let us focus on the good that our perceived enemies – both living and dead has done in the past and seek only peace as we extend a hand of friendship.
Oyo State is no doubt the State of the progressives but each time we fight ourselves, we lose focus and allow the opposition to have an upper hand in the State.
This is a clarion call for us to come back together as one to rebuild our party and bring back its glory.
It is a call to those who have left, return home to where you truly belong and where your heart is.
To those who are complacent and have the “siddon look” attitude, rise up on your feet and take up the baton and let us continue with the race.
I thank you all.
Bimbo Kolade
Federal Commissioner
RMAFC
