Ogun: Akinlade and his consolidation message

THE governorship aspiration of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate, in Ogun state, Honourable Adekunle Akinlade, in the March 2, election seems to be receiving wide acceptance from the people, given the political ambience in the state.

This is evident in every of the ward the campaign train visited. The show of love for Akinlade could not be overempahised as majority of the people, who shared their thoughts about the candidature of Akinlade, said his resolve to consolidate on the developmental programmes and projects embarked upon by the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has given him an edge over other contestants.

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In what has become a common feature of the campaign across the wards visited by the APM candidate, Akinlade continues to make commitments to the people, literally signing a pact on service delivery and making life much more better for the people of the state, through programmes and policy actions contained in his manifesto chritened “Sustaining the mission to rebuild”.

APM, a party born out of necessity when Akinlade could not secure the All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket, is now considered as the toast of the electorates to lead the state to new heights. Akinlade, has not only brought life and flair to the governorship campaign, he has also continue to set the standard for peaceful campaigns and elections in all the wards and local governments areas visited by the APM campaign train.

He used the opportunity provided by the ward—to—ward campaigns to explain some of the programmes his administration would execute, if voted into office, in various sectors such as youth development, health care, education, economy, infrastructure, road, tourism, agriculture, among others, which he said would be executed in line with the manifesto of APM.

From Agbara, Ejila Awori, Igbesa, Ketu Adie Owe, Alapoti, Ere, Ado Odo I, Ado Odo II, Atan, Iju, Ilogbo, Ijoko, Sango, Ota I, Ota II and Ota III wards, all in Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area, the APM campaigns continued to enjoy massive turnout from residents, most of whom told Nigerian Tribune that Akinlade, as governor of Ogun State, would be the best thing that could happen to the state owing to the fact that he has been part of the present administration since inception having served as the Special Adviser to the governor on Revenue Drive before proceeding to the House of Representatives in 2015.

Addressing party supporters shortly after having a closed -door meeting with the traditional ruler of Agbara, the Alagbara of Agbara, Oba Lukman Agunbiade Olute III at in his palace, Akinlade promised to ensure the repair of the road that leads to the community. He noted that it is part of his resolve to prioritise the repair of the road because of its importance to the economic sustainability of the state.

He called on the people of Agbara ward to try as much as possible to vote for the Allied People’s Movement in the National Assembly election on Saturday and the March 2 governorship election as that would guarantee quality governance for as long as the party remains in office.

Akinlade also reminded the people that this is an opportunity for them to produce a governor after 43 years, saying:”If you fail to vote for APM, it simply means that the repair of Agbara/Igbesa Road would be delayed for another 24 years because that is probably the time governoship seat will return to Ogun West. So I urge you to vote massively in the Saturday’s National Assembly election. Once that is done, it will be diificult for the opposition to manipulate the March 2 governorship election.”

Chief Imam, Agbara Community, Lukman Amsa, who was among the dignitaries that welcomed Akinlade and his team, commended him for the chairs and tables he donated to Salvation Army School, Agbarafor the use of the students, and urge him to consider other needs in the school when he becomes the governor of he state.

On ground to welcome Akinlade at Agbara ward were Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TORAN), Nigeria Union of Tailors (NUT), Igbo Traders Association among other unions.

The spokesperson of the Igbo community in Agbara and Igbesa, Adams Nwachukwu while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, said:”We have find somebody we trust in Akinlade. The igbos have seen a lot of people coming here to campaign but for the fact that Akinlade is one of our own by virtue of marriage, we are giving him our total support and there is no going back.”

At Ejila/Awori ward, the traditional ruler of the community, Baale Shittu Bamgbose, told Akinlade that the entire community have resolved to give him their unflinching support, provided he would repair the road that lead to their community.

Akinlade, while responding, said:”I want to assure you that as soon as I assume office as the governor, I will prioritise the repair of the road because it is your right to enjoy good road; it is not that we are doing you a favour. All I want from you is to speak through your votes. Once that is done, I will have the moral right to do all that you have requested for”.

At Igbesa ward, Akinlade said one of the reasons the people must vote for him as governor is the intent to sustain the developmnetal tempo by the present administration in the state, headed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

While the campaign trail was at Alapoti ward, the APM ward chairman, Yahaya Fashina, told Akinlade that one of the major problems facing the people of the ward is that of bad road. He informed the APM governorship candidate that they would do everything possible to give him their maximum support with a request to help them repair the bad road when he becomes governor.

Akinlade and his team, during the course of the campaign, stopped to pay homage to the paramount ruler of Awori land, the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, in his palace.

After a closed-door meeting, the traditional ruler said:”It would gladden my heart if you become the governor and I will be reffered to as governor’s father. I therefore invoke the spirit of our fathers in Awori land that all your wishes will come to pass. Do not forget that your wishes will become reality on the condition that you have the intention to fulfill all your campaign promises when you become governor.”

Other prominent features of the APM campaign were Akinlade’s high reverence for the traditional institution in Ogun State, as he made it a practice of paying homage to the royal fathers before embarking on any activity in their domains, even as all the royal fathers visited gave their royal blessings and words of advice to Akinlade ahead of the poll.

Candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM) for the Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Adeyinka Mafe, assured Akinlade of the people’s support, adding that he and other party leaders would do their best to deliver 60 per cent of the votes available in Sagamu Local Government to him in the March 2, governorship election.

“For those who listened to the promises being made by Akinlade across the wards in Ado Odo Ota and Sagamu Local Governments the APM candidate’s gesture in all these areas is enough to convince the Ogun State voters that our governorship candidate, Honurable Adekunle Akinlade, does not make frivolous promises and when he does, he can be trusted to stand by them,” Mafe, told Nigerian Tribune.

At Ode Lemo ward, the spokesperson of Ode Lemo Development Association, Chief Olufemi Saibu, speaking on behalf of the people of the ward, told Akinlade that the major challenges they are facing are: non-availability of a functional hospital, lack of power supply, non-employment for the youth, adding that they would be glad if he can alleviate their suffering if he becomes governor .

Responding, Akinlade said:”It is impossible for me to assist you as an individual, but I can assure that I can be of help as the governor to solve all these problems that is if you vote massively for me on March 2.

“On the election day, all you need do is after collecting the ballot paper, look for cassava which is the logo of our party, thumb print at the front by using your index finger; drop the ballot paper in the box provided and wait till the ballot are counted before you leave the polling unit.

“When you do all these, and I become the governor, be rest assured that all that you have requested would be on the priority list of the government as soon as we assume office on May 29.”

The thrust of Akinlade’s campaign in over 200 wards in Ogun State was his quest to sustain, according to him, the enormous successes that have been recorded by the incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. To him, any party that comes in to power in the state, other than APM, may not, in any way, understand where the present administration is coming from and may probably ruin the landmark achievements that has been recorded so far.