The new Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr John Oyegun, has called for unity in the party in order to achieve the party’s collective vision.

Delivering an acceptance speech today after his election as the chairman of the opposition party during the National Convention, Mr Oyegun stressed the need for party members to work hand in hand to accomplish the task ahead.

“If we fail in our task due to disunity and acrimony, it is not only ourselves we would have let down. We would have betrayed the hopes and aspirations of long-suffering Nigerians. And we must never lose sight of the fact that the collective destiny of Nigerians is far more important than our individual or group interests, ambitions or grievances.

“Because the road ahead of us is long and hard, we must heed the wise advice of our esteemed Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka that “we must set forth at dawn”. And so, whereas tonight we party to celebrate the successful conclusion of the National Convention of our Party, early tomorrow morning, we must rise with the dawn and set forth on our patriotic mission to set Nigerians free, and usher in the New Nigeria of our dreams,” he said, addressing the delegates at the Eagles Square, Abuja.

He promised Nigerians that their wait was over, stressing that the opposition would provide Nigerians with an alternative choice in the 2015 general elections.

“Your prayers have not been in vain. Help is on the way. The APC is here! In 2015 Nigerians will finally have the opportunity to kick out a long-ruling party.

“In 2015, the All Progressives Congress will provide Nigerians with a visionary, dedicated and people-oriented leadership that will liberate the nation from PDP’s rule of poverty and oppression. Under the stewardship of the APC, Nigeria will progress and Nigerians will thrive. This is our sacred pledge to Nigerians tonight,” he promised.

Mr Oyegun, however, stated that “the very task of salvaging Nigeria will, on its own, be hard because the rot is deep.”

He called on the party members to embrace all the ideals of unity, oneness and harmony, and the spirit of give and take.

“We must learn to let go of past grudges and previous grievances and move forward together as members of the same family. And so tonight, I call for the healing of rifts and the smoothening of cracks. I call for forgiveness of offences and injuries,” the new party chairman said.

On his election as the chairman, he said: “With extreme humility, I accept this responsibility that you have entrusted to me, to lead our Party onto the next phase of its evolution and onwards to the fulfilment of its destined mission as the liberator of the Nigerian people.

“This is a heavy responsibility, but I assure you it is a responsibility I will not take lightly”.

Mr Oyegun further pledged to do his best to justify the faith and confidence that had been reposed in him.

He was a former governor of Edo State and had Mr Tom Ikimi and former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipreye Silva, as other major contenders.

Although Mr Oyegun emerged as the consensus chairman, the party still conducted an election to satisfy the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission for party conventions and also party rules which stipulates that an election must hold even though a consensus candidate emerges.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows APC National Chairman, John Oyegun.