...as High Chiefs, religious leaders, others endorse gov’s second term bid
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State brought its campaign ahead of the 2023 general election to a close on Tuesday, as the governor of the state and gubernatorial standard-bearer of the party, ‘Seyi Makinde, campaigned in five local governments that make up Ibadan Main City.
The governor, who flagged off the campaign a little over a month ago at the historical Mapo Hall,
Ibadan, has traversed all the 33 local governments of the state, giving account of his service to the people of the state in the last 44 months, amid promises to serve them more if he is re-elected on March 11, 2023.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, on behalf of the Media Committee of the Governor’s Campaign Council, indicated that the on Tuesday, the governor, touched Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West and Ibadan North-West Local Government Areas, where he met with the traditional council and religious leaders in the respective council areas.
He equally met with Market Men and Women’s associations, Artisanal groups and non-indigenes, declaring that his government has been able to achieve much under Omituntun 1.0 due to the massive support it received from the people and that more developments are in store for the state under Omituntun 2.0, which is about sustainable development in the state.
The governor,
accompanied by his deputy and running mate, Barr. Abdulroheem Bayo Lawal; his wife, Engr. Tamunominini; leaders of the PDP across the state and candidates of the party in the National and state Assembly elections in all the five councils, was welcomed to each of the Councils by a mammoth crowd of party supporters and residents of the state, who commended him for transforming the state.
At campaign podiums mounted in Apata (Ibadan South-West), Adelabu Market (Ibadan South-East), Molete (Ibadan South-West), Ile Ibikunle (Ibadan North-West), Bodija Market (Ibadan North) and Oja’gbo (Ibadan North-East), Governor Makinde rallied residents of the state to re-elect him in order to move the state to sustainable development and enable the realisation of campaign commitments already contained in his document, Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027.
Speaking at the St. Paul Church, Yemetu, in Ibadan North Local Government, where he met with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and at the Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja’ba, where he met with the League of Imams and Alfas in Ibadan South-East, the governor appreciated all religious leaders for standing by his administration and for their prayers.
He urged the people to support him in the coming election so as to be able to consolidate on the achievements recorded across the four pillars of his administration.
He equally rallied the electorate to support all candidates of the PDP in the National Assembly and State Assembly elections, in order for him to have likeminds and partners with whom he will continue to develop the state.
While speaking with traditional worshippers at the Ibadan North-East Local Government Secretariat as well as non- indigenes of the state at the Ibadan North-West Local Government Secretariat, Governor Makinde stated that his administration has been able to put in place free and qualitative education and improve the health sector with the renovation and equipment of over 250 Primary Healthcare Centres.
He also alluded to how the administration has successfully expanded state’s economy by connecting all the zones of the state with quality roads, prompt payment of salaries and pensions of civil servants and retirees on/or before the 25th of every month in the past 44 months.
He also stated that his administration has and ensured the security of of lives and property through the creation of Amotekun and support to federal security agencies.
In his address before the traditional council at the mini-Mapo Hall, Alesinloye, Ibadan South-West Local Government, Governor Makinde said that his government has upheld the honour and sanctity of the Ibadan Chieftaincy System and that he remained true to his words that any reform that will come to the system should come from within the traditional system.
He added that as part of his respect for the traditional institution, he has equally approved the increment of the local government allocations for the traditional council from five to 10 per cent and that the implementation will begin by the end of this month.
Governor Makinde, while speaking with religious leaders, stated that he felt the pains of the people regarding the ongoing scarcity of new Naira notes, but that he would continue to encourage them not to despair or resort to violence.
” I have told our people not to engage in violence and destruction of properties because if they do, we will still have to use government money to repair the vandalised facilities.
“What I am saying in essence is, hold your PVC on Saturday and use it to speak out. Our future will be great if we make the right decision on Saturday and March 11th.
“If we say we have achieved some certain things in this administration, it is because the conducive atmosphere this government created accommodated it. So far, there has not been a religious crisis here and there, which largely has been due to your cooperation.
“I don’t want to start talking about what we have done because you all know them. In 2019, we came up with the roadmap for accelerated development for Oyo State 2019-2023. Those who have the document should refer to it and they will observe that we have achieved over 80 per cent of our promises to the people. We have delivered on the four pillars, which this administration focuses on.
“So, I still want to assure you that we will continue working until we achieve our main objective in this administration but Omituntun 2.0 will be better because it is centred on sustainable development.”
Speaking on behalf of the Imams and Alfas in the five local governments, Professor Kamil Oloso, promised the support of th Muslim clerics, explaining that the governor has done a lot for the Muslim Ummah in the state.
He stated that the ongoing renovation of the Oja’ba Central Mosque is being done by the Makinde-led administration, adding, however, that the decision to support him for another term of four years, is based on his sterling achievements in all sectors in the state.
Similarly, the Ibadan High Chiefs also declared their support for the governor.
Speaking on behalf of the Chiefs, the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Eddy Oyewole, said that the governor deserved all the support he has continued to get, as he has done well in administering the state.
Also, in their remarks, representatives of the Community Development Council, traders and non-indigenes appreciated the governor for his achievements across different sectors in the last three and half years, and promised to work for his re-election.
