Dear Compatriots, I want to use this medium to appreciate
everybody’s contributions towards making Semester 2 of Season 6 a huge success.
Without doubts in my mind, I strongly believe that all the participants at the
just concluded Semester will agree with me that the programmes designed for the
Semester were very rich in contents and we all enjoyed it to the latter.
Fellow democrats, of memorable positive impact to us were issues
on the election held on May 27, 2011 in which I was a presidential flag-bearer
under the platform of Young African Democrats Party (YADP) and my respected
colleague, Mr. Onwuakpa Davingson, who was my contender under the Blue Ocean
Democratic Party (BODP). After two rounds of tied votes, the third round gave
us a relief which resulted to my declaration as the 6th President of the
DESPLAY Republic.
Based on the premises that we all agreed that the electioneering
processes were free & fair and that the reputations of all members of
DESNEC 2011, under the Chairmanship of Mr. ‘Sola Fagorusi, are of high
standards, I want to appreciate all of them for conducting a credible election.
Our election will go down a memory lane of DESPLAY history as the one that was
keenly contested up to the third round!
My sincere gratitude to all the members of YADP and my campaign
team, headed by Barr. Karen Opigo, for their strong believe in me as a viable
presidential candidate. I also appreciate the sportsmanship hearts of all the
members of BODP. Likewise, I will never forget to acknowledge the
intercessional supports received from the ex-President Maxwell Ogaga (President
of Season 4) and ex-President Babafemi Oyediran (President of Season 5) when
the need be. I still count on their supports throughout my tenure. Sir Bola
Abimbola is highly appreciated for passionately coordinating the activities of
DESPLAY programme. All team members of Youngstars Development Initiative, under
Pastor Kingsley N.T. as the Team Leader, are appreciated for uniting us through
this platform and breeding emerging democratic leaders in Africa continent.
In discharging my duties as the President, everybody will be
given equal opportunities of active participation in delivering the dividends of
good governance through my experienced leadership. The tasks ahead are enormous
and all members are enjoyed to make positive impacts whenever the need arise.
I thank you all and God bless.
Democracy Series: Participation, Learning and Active Youth (DESPLAY)
is a project coordinated by Youngstars Development Initiative and sponsored by
the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA. The project features capacity
building programmes for African youths in leadership, democracy and good
governance. The sixth edition known as Season 6 has participants drawn from
Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. NB:
Signed:
His Excellency,
Hon. Isiaka Olamilekan Popoola (GCFR),
President, DESPLAY Republic
May 29, 2011
