Just like a carnival, the arrival of the Oyo ADC governorship candidate, Senator Olufemi Akinola Lanlehin (SOLAN) to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, witnessed a large turnout of party faithful and members of the public.
Senator Lanlehin, on arrival from Abuja where he had gone to perfect necessary documents regarding candidate substitution at the INEC HQ in Abuja, was received at the Alakia Airport at around 12:40pm.
It is to be recalled that the ADC NWC had last Friday concluded candidate substitution formalities at INEC, weeks ahead of the substitution window opened till December 1, 2018, culminating in the Commission accepting Senator Lanlehin as the Oyo ADC governorship candidate for the coming March 2, 2019 poll.
To receive Senator Lanlehin at the Alakia Airport were a host of Oyo ADC party officials led by the State Chairman, Alh Ahmed Ayinla and Secretary, Alh Wasiu Emiola. Also on hand were Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Senator representing Oyo Central and ADC senatorial candidate and Barrister Bayo Lawal, the Oyo North Senatorial candidate.
Others included Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, Hon Segun Olaleye (Radical), Hon Gbenga Adewusi (Arole), Gaphar Ojetola, Tolani Tajudeen, Adekunle Yaqub, all contestants to various positions under the platform of the Oyo ADC, as well as party top shots from the 33 local governments of Oyo State.
Senator Lanlehin, from Alakia Airport went through Gbagi, Iwo-road, Idi-Ape, Gate, Oje, Beere, Ojaaba, Molete, Dugbe, Mokola, Sango to the ADC Office in Samonda, acknowledging cheers from enthusiastic members of the crowd who expressed happiness by waving heartily at him, while he responded with numerous thumbs up signs.
While addressing the mammoth crowd at the party office in Samonda, Senator Lanlehin (SOLAN) appreciated everyone for their support, especially while the nomination process lasted, as well as fellow governorship contestants, for the opportunity given him to be the party’s candidate.
He said had held fruitful talks with aggrieved contestants whom he described as men of honour and experienced politicians, adding that they appreciated the need for a change of guard in the state in 2019 and would join him and the party to achieve that.
Lanlehin charged party members and the people of the state to guide their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and protect the information therein from being cloned, adding that the charge became necessary in view of the APC Federal Government’s Tradermoni which he condemned as deceitful.
“Don’t forget to guide and guard your PVCs and tell your neighbours to do same.
“Those who go to traders under the guise of the Tradermoni scheme are deceitful. Do not let them harvest your PVCs. The money they were asked to give the traders, only 10 per cent was released,” he said.
Senator Sunmonu and Hon Olatubosun also appreciated everyone present, informing them that the Oyo ADC is the party to beat in the coming polls.
Both as contestants to national assembly positions, and in utilising the campaign window specifically opened for presidential and national assembly positions told voters to vote the ADC in the coming polls, as that’s the party with the people’s love at heart.