A massive crowd yesterday welcomed the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on a campaign tour to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Residents, in their hundreds, poured out on the streets to identify with the former Lagos State governor, making it difficult for the campaign motorcade to meander through the filled-up streets of the city.
In what residents described as an unprecedented political rally, Mapo Hall, the venue of the campaign rally, as well as its adjoining streets, bristled with an excited crowd.
A statement from the Tinubu Media office signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said the presidential candidate had earlier in the day visited Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, who is a member of the G-15 club of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state helmsmen against the candidacy of one of the opposition parties, Atiku Abubakar.
Tinubu also conferred with monarchs from the South-West. He managed to reach the campaign venue at around 6:40 pm.
His presence of the candidate stirred a thunderous ovation, even as the crowd danced to campaign songs.
Waving to the crowd, the presidential flag bearer also danced as he moved around the podium, along with the APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin, and other party leaders.
However, the wild excitement among the crowd of supporters and the setting darkness did not allow for long speeches.
But in his prepared speech, Tinubu promised the people of Oyo State that his administration’s agriculture policy will be of benefit to the people if elected.
He urged the people of the state to partner with him to quicken the pace of economic development, job creation, business, industry, prosperity and renewed hope in Oyo and in Nigeria in general.
“My plans for you and for Nigeria are beneficial and good. They speak of a better tomorrow of sufficient jobs, sufficient food, sufficient money and sufficient fairness and opportunity such that you will be able to realise your dearest dreams as long as you are willing to work toward them,” he said.
He added, “Oyo will straddle the timeline between the best of our past and the greatness of our awaiting future. It will reach back into the best of our traditions to showcase our art, culture and way of life to the rest of the world.
“Our plans will benefit your industries, your farms and the very way you live. We will attract industry and jobs but also help you create industries and jobs on your own.
“We will attract even more institutions such as the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture and bring the beneficial type of foreign direct investment to join with our own meaningful investment to expand our economy and industries.”
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According to the candidate, “When elected, we will develop industrial hubs, allowing you to produce more of the goods you need while earning a living wage in doing so.
“We will invest wisely in the required infrastructure. The means of Oyo will be to power its factories, light your homes, preserve your food, and export the goods and services you command so that you earn better incomes and live better lives.”
Among those who were with the APC presidential candidate at the rally were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun; former governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Adeboyega Oyetola (Osun), and members of the National Assembly, among other chieftains of the party.
Receiving the presidential candidate in his office in the state capital, Makinde, who was elected on the platform of the PDP in 2019, and is seeking another term in office, said he would choose unity of the country, equity and fairness over politics.
He, therefore, urged Tinubu to carry on with his campaign unfettered.
Many residents were surprised by the visit, being an opposition party-ruled state.
On the entourage of Tinubu’s visit to Makinde were a former governor of Osun State and National Chairman of APC, Bisi Akande; Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Former governors Ekiti and Osun respectively, Kayode Fayemi and Gboyega Oyetola were also in Tinubu’s entourage.
Tinubu said that he was in Oyo State to solicit the endorsement of Makinde ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
Makinde assured his guest that the people of the state would vote for equity and fairness on February 25.
In another development, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has declared that he is indeed the right man to guide Nigeria to recovery.
