Ondo State Information Commissioner, Wale Akinlosotu on Wednesday said massive crowd at the APC mega rally and testimonies by electorate in the state are pointers that the coast is clear for the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Saturday’s governorship election.
Akinlosotu in a statement also hailed the unity within APC as shown in the attendance at the rally, describing it as a weapon that the party used to weaken all the opposition parties.
The mega rally of the APC was attended by President Bola Tinubu represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Governors Babajide Sanwoolu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo; among others.
APC National Chairman, Dr Umar Ganduje presented APC flag to the party flagbearers in Saturday’s election, Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Deputy Governorship candidate, Dr Olayide Adelami at the event attended by other APC national and state leaders and crowd of electorate in the state.
Akinlosotu said that beyond the mega rally, the acceptance of the governor to continue in the office for the next four years across the 18 local government areas of the state and by all groups, leaders and shades of opinions had been unprecedented.
He expressed confidence that Aiyedatiwa would win in all the council areas, saying, “At the campaign rallies in communities across the 18 local governments, the receptions were wonderful. People love Mr Governor because of his integrity, because of his calmness and because of the person that he is.
“Apart from that, people love Mr Governor because of what he has been able to do in the last 10 months. All the traditional rulers in Ondo State have endorsed Mr Governor to come back to office for the next four years.
“All the religious leaders in Ondo State have endorsed Mr Governor, all the teachers and their associations in Ondo State have endorsed Mr Governor, the National Union of Local Government Employees in Ondo State, transporters, civil servants in the state, youths and farmers have endorsed Mr Governor.
“No other party has enjoyed this level of support and endorsements. It is a testament to what Mr Governor has been doing and what he will continue to do. Mr Governor in the last 10 months have, through transformational projects and programmes, taken Ondo State to a different level. It is no longer the Ondo State that people used to know.
“Look at his achievements in the area of education and infrastructural development. Aiyedatiwa in the last 10 months has done a lot in the areas of youths empowerment and entrepreneurship, in the areas of health and agriculture and food security and as well in the riverine areas.
“All efforts are geared towards transforming Ondo State from a civil service state to an industrialised one. Salaries are being paid as and when due and in full. Mr Governor believes in the welfare of the workers of Ondo State”.
“APC is one united party unlike the other parties that are fragmented. A large percentage of leaders and members of opposition parties in the state have defected to APC. We receive them to APC on daily basis from PDP, SDP and others.
“This is because they like to identify with the governor because of his performance. He is a good brand. That is how Ondo State people will come out on Saturday to vote for APC and its performing governor and candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa,” the commissioner said.
President Tinubu, while canvassing Ondo State people’s votes for APC, had said Aiyedatiwa’s continuity in office would symbolize new era in Ondo State, saying the passion on the crowd’s face were assurance of what to expect on Saturday.
Tinubu, who described the mega rally as celebrating Aiyedatiwa’s victory ahead of the election, reechoed his love and high regard for Ondo State and her people.
He told Ondo State people, “You are a state of progressives, come out and vote for the progressives party. Come out enmasse and let us win in all the 18 states”.
In his address, Aiyedatiwa, who called for a minute silence in honour of his predecessor, the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, said, “If he is alive today, he would be sitting here backing me up physically to ensure that Ondo State remains APC state.
“I know that is exactly what is going to happen because you know what we have done since 2017 when APC got to power in Ondo State and since myself and my deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, assumed office in the last 10 months, you know what we have been able to do within the period that we assumed office.
“We are not to make promises, you know what we have done and you know what we can do. I want to tell you that by the time that we return in February 2025, we will do more than we have been able to do in the last 10 months.
“You have not seen anything. We will do more than what we have done. The government will continue to be for the people across the 18 local government areas,” Aiyedatiwa said.
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