Ondo rally: Tinubu, Akande absent as Buhari says Akeredolu’ll win

Peter Dada

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism  that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), will win  Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The President said this during a mega rally of the APC held at the Democracy Park, Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Saturday.

Buhari said the APC governorship primary held on September 3 was free and fair. He maintained that Akeredolu was a credible person.

Buhari said, “I am here in Akure because I am proud of my party and I have to congratulate Akeredolu for emerging as the candidate of our party through a free and fair primary.

“God willing, he is going to win the election. Make sure you vote for him; do not vote for any other party. We are going to win the election.”

The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; governors of Lagos, Oyo and Osun states, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, respectively, were absent at the rally.

Those that attended included governors of Ogun, Edo, Plateau, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano and Imo states,  Mr. Ibikunle Amosun, Godwin Obaseki, Simon Lalong, Mohammed Abubakar, Tanko Al Makura, Yahaya Bello, Abdullahi Ganduje and Rochas Okorocha, respectively.

Also in attendance were the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf; the immediate past Governor of Edo State, Mr.  Adams Oshiomhole; Mr. Segun Oni; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Senators Siaka Adeleke and Joshua Dariye, among others.

Okorocha insisted that all the state governors of the party were behind Akeredolu.

He said, “We are together, we are indivisible. Ondo State must join the progressive states in Nigeria. Therefore, we must vote for Akeredolu to win the election. Akeredolu rejected federal appointments because he loves you people. He wants to serve the people of Ondo. So, vote for him.”

Saraki urged the people of the state to work for the APC candidate to win the election.

“I assure you that many benefits will come to Ondo from the government at the centre if you vote for Akeredolu. You will feel the impact of the Federal Government,” Saraki said.

Akeredolu, while addressing the crowd of APC supporters, said he would ensure the creation of employment for the youth in the state.

He said, “We can’t belong to another place other than the APC. If we want to maximise our natural resources, we must belong to the government at the centre. Don’t vote for a party that is an ‘orphan’, vote for the APC.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has expressed assurance that the poll will be peaceful.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the Force was ready to provide adequate security for the election. He also assured that the election would be violence-free.

“Many officers and men would arrive in the state any moment for the election.We are assuring the people of the state that there would be no room for violence in the election. We are on the ground to  maintain  law and order,” Joseph said.

– Punch