Ahead of the November 26th governorship election in Ondo State, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday told Governor Olusegun Mimiko to start preparing to hand over power in the state to the candidate of their party, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
The APC Governors, who unanimously spoke during the official flag off of their party’s governorship campaign in Akure, the Ondo State capital, declared that being in the same party with the Federal Government is the only panacea to the scourge of poverty, starvation, youth unemployment and irregular payment of salary that is currently plaguing the state.
Speaking one after the other at the rally which held at Democracy Park, Akure, the governors said they have resolved to win Ondo for Akeredolu through the instrumentalities of the Law and with the support of the people of the state.
The governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, who was the first to speak, urged the members of the Hausa Community in the state who thronged the venue of the event to ensure that their votes are casted en mass for the APC, stating that the solution to the problems militating against the state lies only in the hands of Akeredolu.
Also in his speech, the governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said the reign of the PDP in Ondo State will end on November 26th. The former Speaker of the House of Representative urged Mimiko to either join the APC to work for Akeredolu or get prepared to be voted out.
“The wind of change currently blowing across the country will not exclude Ondo State. Ondo State will not be allowed to remain in the hands of the locust. My friend and brother, Mimiko should get prepared to hand over to Akeredolu,” Tambuwal said.
The Chairman of the APC National Campaign Committee, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State congratulated Akeredolu for his victory in advance. He assured him that President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure APC triumph at the poll.
The Governor also cautioned Mimiko against blaming President Buhari and APC for the substitution of his preferred choice, Eyitayo Jegede as PDP candidate, stressing that on no condition would the party allow itself to be blackmailed recklessly as it is being currently done by Mimiko.
The event, which witnessed the defection of several chieftains of the PDP led by former member of the House of Representatives and Immediate past Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye and NURTW chieftain, Mr. Akin Fayehun popularly known as Ade Basket into the APC, was attended by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and all the members of the National Working Committee of the party.
Oyegun who was optimistic that his party would win the election, charged the people of the state to use their votes to send away poverty, hunger, under-development and stagnation which he said the Mimiko’s administration stands for.
The former Governor of Edo State thanked the people of the state for turning out in their large numbers to grace the flag off ceremony.
The party governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu thanked the APC governors and dignitaries who attended the event, promising to focus on Job creation through agriculture, massive infrastructure and security of lives and properties if elected.
Other notable people at the flag off ceremony rally were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal who represented President Buhari, Governors of Bauchi and Ogun State, Mohammed Abubakar and Ibikunle Amosun, Ministers of Solid Minerals; Labour and Employment; Communications, Kayode Fayemi, Chris Ngige and Adebayo Shittu.
Others were Ministers of Health, State for Niger Delta and Defense, Professors Rufus Adewole and Cladius Daramola and Mansur Mohammed Dan Alli and former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Ambassadorial Nominee, Senator Olorunibe Mamora and Senator representing Ondo Central in the senate, Chief Tayo Alasoadura .
Also at the event were former Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, Senator Representing Osun East in the senate, Chief Isiaka Adeleke, APC National Vice-Chairman in South west, Chief Pius Akinyelure, chairman of the party in Ondo State, Hon. D.I kekemeke, Human Rights Lawyer, Tunji Abayomi, Director General, Akeredolu Campaign Organization, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan and several others.
