2019: Oyo APC flags off of campaign, unveils candidates

2019: Oyo APC flags off of campaign, unveils candidates

Saturday, December 15, 2018 8:57 am


Chief Akin Oke, Oyo APC Chairman, Gov. Ajimobi and the APC gubernatorial candidate, Adelabu

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

Economic activities was paralysed on Friday December 14 2018 at Oke Ado Area of Ibadan as All Progress Congress, APC, officially flagged off its 2019 governorship campaign at its state secretariat. As early as 9am, the major road which passed in front of the secretariat was closed for vehicular movement as stern security operatives comprising policemen, members of Directorate of State Security Service, members Civil Defence and other private security personnel were on ground to ensure that the campaign was hitch free.

The campaign attended by a mammoth crowd and party faithful across the state equally had in attendance, hoodlums freely smoking India hemp and all the attempts by the state Governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi to stop them proved abortive.

When the odour of the drug became disturbing, governor Ajimobi ordered the smokers to stop if he wanted them to give them money.

He said, “I have warned that I don’t want anybody to smoke India hemp here. I want those who are smoking it to stop if they want me to give them money at the end of this campaign. There is nothing bad in smoking India hemp but smoking it excessively is bad. Stop smoking it but you can smoke it after we might have gone”.

Handy to add colour to the event were Nollywood members and some prominent musicians including Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, also known as Oganla, Akin Lewis, Alhaji Rasheed Ayinde Aderibigbe Liadi, popularly known as Fuji Merenge, Olajumoke Amoke Olatunde George, Ebun Oloyede alias Olaiya Igwe, Muyiwa Ademola alias Authentic, Faithia Balogun and Soji Taiwo Omo Banke, who took turn to urge the state residents to vote only for APC candidates in the forthcoming election.

The highlight of the event were the official presentation of the party flag to the governorship candidate, an Ibadan born Adebayo Adelabu, former Deputy Governor, Central Governor of Central Bank, Son of  a foremost politician, late Adegoke Adelabu alias Penkelemes and the unveiling of his running mate, Samuel Eegunjobi, from Oke Ogun Area of the state.

Also, three senatorial candidates, the outgoing governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Teslim Folarin, both from Ibadan, and Senator Fatai Buhari Oke Ogun got their flags.

Also presented flags were the 14 candidates for the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Akeen Adeyemi, the son of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, the state Speaker, Hon Joshua Olagunju Ojo, Ojerinde Olumide, Demola Ojo Obafemi, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, Deji Aboderin, son of the publisher of the Punch Newspaper, Akinola Alabi, Odebunmi Olusegun, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Olatunbosun B. Olajide, Saheed Fijabi, Hon. Olu Akintola, Sina Peller and Prince Akinremi. Finally, the 32 candidates for the state assembly were mentioned.

In his speech, Governor Ajimobi lampooned those who felt that the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu imposed Adelabu on the party saying, “Some people are saying that Tinubu imposed Adelabu on me and the party. If he does, is it not better for Tinubu, a Yorubaman to impose a candidate on me than Uche Secondus, an Igbo man?”

He, however, noted that Adelabu and his running mate were not imposed on the party but God choose them and that is the reason why they will win the election.

Emphasising why the electorate must make Adelabu to succeed him, he enumerated his achievements which he believed that Adelabu would build on if elected as the governor of the state.

Among the achievements he showcased was the provision of the security in the state stressing that he has been able to de-radicalize members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.

He said, “There was a time that if you see a member of NURTW, you will run away. You dare not stand close to them. Thugs were everywhere. There was a time NURTW will occupy the state House Assembly. There was a time it was members of NURTW that were ruling the state House of Assembly. They even impeach the state’s former governor. Gone were these days in the state. When I know the current chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Abideen Olajide, popularly known as Ejiogbe, he had tortoise on his chest but today, he does not have tortoise again. Can you remember when the former chairman of NURTW overthrow the speaker of the State House of assembly?. It can’t happen again”.

The governor however appealed to other governorship aspirants who contested with Adelabu and lost not to be angry with the party saying, “All the governorship aspirants were capable and qualified but it is only one that will emerge at any point in time. I want to beg you to forgive for losing at the primary and join hands with Adelabi to deliver victory to APC at the next election.

Ajimobi urgede the Oyo residents not to vote for the parties that are new and young, assertively noted that no candidates of the other political parties that can defeat APC at the forthcoming election.

 He berated the governorship ADC governorship candidate, Senator Oluefmi Lanlehin pointing out that his party is dead in the state.

Governor Ajimobi also gave the reason why he wanted to return to the Senate saying that apart from the fact that it would give him the opportunity to become Senate President, he is courageous and he would qualitatively represent the state.

In attendance were the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke and other party executive scribes.

In another development, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oyo State Chapter unveiled Engineer Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan from as the running mate to the gubernatorial candidate of the party, Engineer Seyi Makinde. Olaniyan, the former General Manager of Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSROMA is an indigene of Igboho in Oorelope Local Government Area in Oke Ogun geopolitical zone in the state.


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