Stay off politics, Oke advises Afenifere

THE South West Director General of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Chief Olusola Oke, on Monday, advised leaders and members of the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, to refrain from politics and endorsing any of candidate ahead of the forthcoming election.

He noted that the group has been divided, saying a faction of the group is supporting Buhari while the other groups are supporting Atiku, advising the group to leave politics for politicians.

Oke who stated this during a press conference to herald the visit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, frowned over the open endorsement of candidates by the factions of the group.

Oke maintained that Afenifere, as a socio-cultural group is not supposed to delve into politics or pitching tent with any candidate but should concentrate on social and cultural issues and not politics.

He, however, said the endorsement of the Afenifere group would not determine the fate or fortune of Buhari in the forthcoming election saying the south-west people would vote for APC and its candidate.

ALSO READ: Buhari mourns late Senator Waku

Oke who queried the influence of Afenifere on any election said “Is Afenifere truly a group that can muster vote for a candidate? But I am sure that the endorsement of the group will not take away the chance of Buhari in this election.

Speaking on the reasons the south west people would vote for again for Buhari’s re-election, Oke said “one thing we cannot take away from this government is its philosophy which tallies with the philosophy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who believe that the resources of the state should be devoted to the welfare of the people who believe that there must be transparency and accountability in governance.

“Therefore as Yoruba people, it is like having another Awolowo in the helms of affairs in the governance of this country.”

According to him, “generally and in particular, the Ondo state people and the Yoruba people of south-west states should support Buhari for repositioning our country.

“Let’s take our mind to 2015 when this government came into power, ironically, the period between 2012 and 2014 was the period when Nigeria has the greatest income in the history of this country.

The oil which was the major drive of our economy was 124 dollar per barrel, earning Nigeria unprecedented income but unfortunately, that was when the nation’s infrastructure was worst, that was when the security of the nation was most challenging, when corruption was at its peak, unemployment was the order of the day and hunger is written on the faces of the common man and Nigeria went into recession

“When Buhari came in, that was when oil price was reduced by more than 60 per cent and the president had to fix the security, fix the economy and also tackle the issue of poverty and corruption which is the causative factor of the situation we find ourselves.”

Oke, however, canvassed support for Buhari ahead of the election, urging the people of the region to vote en masse for Buhari based on his present achievements.

He said in the area of infrastructure, the rail has always being a source of transportation even in the colonial days but this sector collapsed for over 40 years unattended to, but nobody cannot deny that this sector has been revived today.

“Also the ongoing road construction across the country, the Lagos/Ibadan express road has been on the budget of the country for many years without nothing being done but that road is at the advanced stage and near completion and there are other roads being initiated across the country

“Corruption has been our problem in this country and no government has ever tackle corruption headlong like this present government.”

He said the Yoruba nation has benefitted from Buhari’s administration, assuring that more developmental projects would be initiated in the region with the re-election of Buhari.

He said “the Yoruba nation has no doubt contributed to the success story of this administration, without the south-west, there will be no APC. Without the Yoruba, there would be no Buhari administration.

“Our leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was the mastermind of what became the APC. Look at what we’ve benefited. Apart from the aviation, the railway, the roads. and employment generation, we don’t have less than 25, 000 N-Power beneficiaries.

“When you are talking about revolution in terms of rails, in terms of roads and all the rest, you are talking about the southwest which is the core or the base of the economy of this country.

“Whatever happens to infrastructural breakthrough, southwest will be a major beneficiary of it. So, let’s bite for Buhari again because you don’t change a winning formula”